"Hurry up, sir!" shouted Mr. Wheeler. But the captain had disappeared. He had run down to his cabin for some papers.
"She's full of water!" cried one of the sailors in the long boat. And as he spoke the May Queen stopped dead, and shook.
With a yell one of the men cut the rope that held the long-boat to the ship, and shoved off like lightning from the sinking vessel.
Only in time.
The next moment the May Queen pitched gently forward. Her bows went under water.
"Captain!" shrieked the sailors in a deafening chorus.
Then her stern settled down. The sea parted in a great gulf. The waves rolled over her upper deck. And with her sails all spread the May Queen went down into the abyss.
A hoarse cry burst from every throat; and the boats danced on the bubbling, foaming water. The sailors stood up all ready to save him, crying to each other that he'd come to the surface soon. But he never did.
They rowed all round and round the spot, but not a vestige of the captain did we see.
"Sucked under—by Heaven!" cried the first mate in a tone of horror.