The squirming mass, of which he was part, slid down into the barbed wire of the port rail beneath the surface of the sea.
Jerry was so secure in his nook that he did not roll away.

But when he heard Skipper's commands cease, and, seconds later, heard his cursings in the barbed wire, he set up a shrill yelping and clawed and scratched frantically at the blanket to get out.

Something had happened to Skipper.

He knew that.

It was all that he knew, for he had no thought of himself in the chaos of the ruining world.
But he ceased his yelping to listen to a new noise--a thunderous slatting of canvas accompanied by shouts and cries.