"We're 'eaded for the 'ole in th' sea!" muttered Mulcher.
"We'll go down tug an' hall," mumbled Galton unsteadily. "Fish bait,
that's w'ot we are!"
"I've heard sea serpents can sting a man and numb him so he won't live
or die," shivered Hogan, "like a spider stings a fly."
They spoke in half whispers under the influence of the unknown terror.
"If anything happens, I shall keel myself," declared Deschaillon, with
nervous intensity, "but I shall see it first."
"That's w'ot went with the other two crews--killed theirselves,"
chattered Mulcher.
Another silence fell. The cool breeze came as a sort of mockery of their
unknown peril. For the first time since the storm every man was
thoroughly comfortable physically.
"Boys," planned Hogan, "whin th' thing comes aboard, we'll put up th'
best foight we can!"
"It don't come aboard--it bites a 'ole in th' 'ull."
"Aye, like th' _Minnie B_."
Just then a figure approached the men unsteadily, and Madden saw that
Caradoc had recovered consciousness and was able to walk. As the tall,
gaunt figure approached, the crew eyed him as if he were some new
danger, then he asked.
"What is this? Are we moving?"
"Yes we're off," replied Madden.
"Under our own power?" he inquired, turning around and staring at the
smokeless funnel.
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