Some of the water
swept into the cabin, and the girls were alarmed more than ever.
"A good job done that it's overboard," said Captain Jerry. "Another
plunge or two and we would have gone over, sure pop!"
With the wreckage cleared away the boys breathed more freely. But
the peril was still extreme, for it was no easy matter to keep the
craft from taking the mighty waves broadside. But the force of the
wind drove them on, and Captain Jerry handled the wheel as only a
veteran tar could.
"I guess it's a hurricane," was Tom's comment.
"Looks more like a cyclone to me," spluttered Sam. "I'd give a good
deal to be out of it."
To keep from, being swamped they had to run out to sea. This was no
pleasant prospect to the boys, but it could not be helped.
"We needn't tell the girls," said Dick. "It will only worry them
more, without doing any good."
Two hours went by, and the storm kept on as madly as ever. Night was
now coming on, and soon it was impossible to see a hundred feet in
any direction. The yacht's lanterns were lit, and one was hoisted on
a stick which Dick nailed to the stump of the mast.
"We've got to, have some sort o' light," said Captain Jerry. "If not,
we may run afoul o' some other craft."
The time went by slowly, each hour seeming an age. Nobody felt like
eating, and nothing was said about supper until nearly nine o'clock,
when Dora opened the cabin door and called Dick:
"We thought we would get to shore before eating," she said.
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