Foam dripped from their jaws.
"Look out!" cried Bob. "Those dogs are mad! Be careful!"
Savage growls and barks from the angry beasts emphasized his words.
There was no doubt of it. The dogs were mad from fear and hunger. They
disputed the advance of the voyagers, and would not let them aboard.
"Try on the other side," suggested Mr. De Vere.
The boat was worked around to the other side of the bow, but the dogs
followed, and stood on guard there.
"Maybe we can get up at the stern," said Jerry. "Perhaps the dogs
can't make their way aft."
But it was the same there. The maddened animals were ready to fly at
the throats of any one who should attempt to board the derelict.
"What's to be done?" asked Ned. "We didn't count on this. Those are
fierce dogs."
"Indeed they are," replied Mr. De Vere. "It would not be safe to risk
getting too close to them."
"But what can we do?" asked Jerry. "If we wait here too long, Blowitz
may appear."
"We've got to do something," said the boy's employer. "The only thing
I can see to do is to shoot the dogs. I'll get my rifle," and he went
into the cabin, where he had left his weapon, one of several he had
brought aboard.
CHAPTER XXVIII
A MYSTERIOUS INFLUENCE
"ONE of you boys will have to do the shooting," said Maurice De Vere,
as he came out on the small forward deck with his rifle. "I'm a pretty
good marksman, but I can't do anything when I have this broken arm."
"Let Jerry try," suggested Ned.
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