switchboard and groaned. The next instant came a crash!






CHAPTER II

CRIPPLED BY THE STRANGER


With a lunge the Fortuna struck a dark object riding the crest of an
oncoming wave. Jack stood against the switchboard scarcely daring to
look while Arnold came crowding up the companion-way his face blanched
and eyes staring. Harry and Tom were on the forward deck looking along
either side of the plunging boat.

"What did we hit?" queried Arnold in a shaking tone.

"I don't know," replied Jack. "Whatever it was, we don't seem to be sunk
yet, though. Maybe it was just a few floating boards washed adrift from
some vessel."

"What did you see, boys?" Arnold called out to his companions on deck.
"Did we hit something or did it hit us?"

"Looks to me as if we had run down a row boat and cut her right in two!"
declared Tom. "I was sure I saw the stern of a boat just sinking here on
the starboard side."