Nicky was almost thrown off his feet as the Libertad thrust her nose, unguided by human hand, against the side of the coral, and with a jolt stopped.
Nicky gained his equilibrium and leaped for the foredeck; there he climbed swiftly atop the low cabin and began to run along its length.
As he ran he shouted wildly to Lieutenant Sommerlee and Mr. Neale.
They heard him and the cutter swung her nose toward the beached vessel with its cabin blazing.
Nicky saw flames leap up through the windows and lick at the roof and blow over it in the light breeze. It was hot to his feet, still he went on, a handkerchief over his face, crouching low as he ran.
He stopped, at the after end, for a sheet of flame was bellying out. But it subsided, and taking what might be his last chance, he leaped onto all-fours beside Tom.
Cliff was moaning, stirring. Nicky shouted again to those in the cutter and Mr. Neale leaned far over the bow, to reach the white stern at the very first instant.
With seething flame behind him, threatening to belch out over him at any instant, with the cockpit edge beginning to burst into flame, Nicky found Cliff’s knife and sawed Tom’s bonds. Then, cutting down the ropes between his legs so he could stand and work, Nicky let Tom help his own final escape while he tugged and worked to get Cliff in his arms.
“Be still,” urged Nicky. “It’s all right!”
Sam and Jack had seen the fire occur; with a common impulse they had leaped into the Senorita’s cabin to get the patent fire extinguishers always kept in an engine room. With these they leaped back to the deck and alongside the flaming cabin as Nicky crossed it.