For a moment, not a sound escaped the boys’ lips. Clutching whatever support lay within reach, they steadied themselves.
Sharp and clear came the clanging signals from the engine-room of the tug; then the sound of machinery stopped and a loud voice hailed them.
“Hello, back there, are you all right?”
“What do you think, Jack?” asked Fred, in a voice that trembled with excitement.
The first shock of fear had passed; Jack was calm and collected again.
“Still right side up—she hit us a glancing blow, luckily.” Then, raising his voice, he yelled, “All right, we don’t need any help. But you will, if you don’t keep a bit further out—you’ll break a chunk out of the Palisades!”
A hoarse laugh followed; the whistle sounded, and the tug was again in motion.
“What’s that—what’s that?” asked Joe, excitedly.
He had been swinging his lantern close to the water’s edge, in an effort to find out the extent of the damage, and detected a small object floating slowly away. It had a strangely familiar look.
“By Jingo, Confuse-us overboard!” yelled Joe.