"I know you have."
"Ha, you spy! Let go, let go."
The result of a general mixing up of Dave and Gerstein was that each now had hold of the coveted garment.
As Gerstein spoke last he sagged and swung Dave around to one side.
Dave held on tightly. Suddenly Gerstein made a feint. He slackened the tension by a bend forward, one hand swung out.
Dave received a heavy blow at the side of the head. It was totally unexpected, and he loosed his grip and went reeling backward.
At that moment a terrific wave swept over the deck. Dave was submerged and carried along.
He tried in vain to catch at something. The tilt of the steamer sent him shooting outward, and the next moment he plunged over the rail into the sea below.
CHAPTER XIII
ADRIFT ON THE PACIFIC