"Sweet Queen Anne!" said Brennan, more quietly. "You've ripped
her belly out."

"It--was the tide," chattered the officer.

The steady, muffled beating of the machinery ceased, the ship
seemed suddenly to lose her life, but it was plain that she was
not aground, for she kept moving through the gloom. From down
forward came excited voices as the crew poured up out of the
forecastle.

Brennan leaped to the telegraph and signaled the engine-room. He
was calm now, and his voice was sharp and steady.

"Go below, Mr. James, and find the extent of the damage," he
directed, and a moment later the hull began to throb once more to
the thrust of the propeller. Inside the wheelhouse Swan had
recovered from his panic and repeated the master's orders
mechanically.

The second and third officers arrived upon the bridge now,
dressing as they came, and they were followed by the chief
engineer. To them Johnny spoke, his words crackling like the
sparks from a wireless. In an incredibly short time he had the
situation in hand and turned to O'Neil, who had been a silent
witness of the scene.

"Glory be!" exclaimed the captain. "Most of our good passengers
are asleep; the jar would scarcely wake them."