"Something is wrong!" burst out Sam, as soon as he could speak. "We
must have struck something."

Tom did not answer, for the reason that he was already on his way to
the deck, with a lantern slung in the crook of his right elbow. Sam
followed with another lantern, leaving the remaining ones wildly
swinging on the hooks in the cabin's ceiling.

"Help! help!"

The cry came from out of the darkness, somewhere in the wake of the
_Swallow_; a cry cut partly short by the piping gale. With his
heart thumping violently, Tom leaped over the deck toward the wheel.

"Dick! What is the matter?"

"Help!" repeated the voice, but now further off than ever. Then Tom
made a discovery which thrilled him with horror.

The position at the wheel was vacant! Dick was gone!

"Dick! Dick! Where are you!" he shouted hoarsely. "Dick!"

"Help!" came more faintly. The cry was repeated several times, but
nothing more reached Tom's ears nor the hearing of his younger brother,
who was now beside him, his round face as pale as death itself.

"Dick's overboard!" The words came from both, and each looked at the
other in consternation.