"Wow! That was a bad one!" exclaimed Bob, as another heavy wave
thundered on the deck, and ran hissing along the scuppers.
"I think you had better get out the life preservers," suggested Mr. De
Vere, when several more tremendous waves followed in quick succession.
"Do you think we are in danger?" asked Ned.
"No more than we were some time ago," was the rather grave answer.
"But it is best to be prepared. We seem to be running into the center
of the storm, instead of away from it."
"I'll get the cork jackets," volunteered Jerry, going to the lockers
where the preservers were kept.
They were placed where they could be quickly put on in case the boat
foundered, and then, with white, set faces the boys prepared to watch
out the remainder of the night, looking to the engine occasionally,
and hoping fervently that they would weather the storm.
It was not cold, for they were in the latitude close to perpetual
summer, and there was no rain, only that never-ceasing wind which
piled the waves up in great foam-capped masses. On and on the boat
staggered, now scarcely making any progress at all, and, again, during
a lull shooting through the water at great speed. Sometimes the screw
would be "racing," as the stern lifted clear of the water, and again
the powerful motor would be almost at a standstill, so great was the
pressure of the waves on the blades of the propeller.
"It doesn't seem to be getting any worse," remarked Bob after a long
silence, broken only by the howl of the wind.
Pages:
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151