I had come down to the deck, and I saw Horner and Kerfoot vainly protest against the attempt.
"By God, I'll not be robbed of my boat by any storm that ever blew out of hell!" he shouted, and though we four stood with our heads together that we might hear, his voice seemed faint and far, as though removed from us an immense distance.
"Mr.Van Weyden!" he cried, and I heard through the tumult as one might hear a whisper.

"Stand by that jib with Johnson and Oofty! The rest of you tail aft to the mainsheet! Lively now! or I'll sail you all into Kingdom Come! Understand ?" And when he put the wheel hard over and the _Ghost's_ bow swung off, there was nothing for the hunters to do but obey and make the best of a risky chance.

How great the risk I realized when I was once more buried beneath the pounding seas and clinging for life to the pinrail at the foot of the foremast.

My fingers were torn loose, and I swept across to the side and over the side into the sea.

I could not swim, but before I could sink I was swept back again.