e a rat leaving a ship."

"We're all rats," was the reply. "I learned just that when I was a rat
among the mangy rats of the poor-farm."

By this time, all men on board had communicated to Michael their
contagion of excitement and fear. Back on top of the cabin so that he
might see, he snarled at the cow whale when the men seized fresh grips
against the impending shock and when he saw her close at hand and
oncoming.

The _Mary Turner_ was struck aft of the mizzen shrouds. As she was
hurled down to starboard, whither Michael was ignominiously flung, the
crack of shattered timbers was plainly heard. Henrik Gjertsen, at the
wheel, clutching the wheel with all his strength, was spun through the
air as the wheel was spun by the fling of the rudder. He fetched up
against Captain Doane, whose grip had been torn loose from the rail. Both
men crumpled down on deck with the wind knocked out of them. Nishikanta
leaned cursing against the side of the cabin, the nails of both hands
torn off at the quick by the breaking of his grip on the rail.

While Daughtry was passing a turn of rope around the Ancient Mariner and
the mizzen rigging and giving the turn to him to hold, Captain Doane
crawled gasping to the rail and dragged himself erect.

"That fetched her," he whispered huskily to the mate, hand pressed to his
side to control his pain. "Sound the well again, and keep on sounding."

More of the sailors took advantage of the interval to rush for'ard under
the toppling fore-topmast, dive into the forecastle, and hastily pack
their sea-bags. As Ah Moy emerged from the steerage with his own rotund
sea-bag, Daughtry dispatched Kwaque to pack the belongings of both of
them.

"Dry as a bone, sir," came the mate's report.

"Keep on sounding, Mr. Jackson," the captain ordered, his voice already
stronger as he recovered from the shock of his collision with the
helmsman. "Keep right on sounding. Here she comes again, and the
schooner ain't built that'd stand such hammering."

By this time Daughtry had Michael tucked under one arm, his free arm
ready to anticipate the next crash by swinging on to the rigging.

In making its circle to come back, the cow lost her bearings sufficiently
to miss the stern of the _Mary Turner_ by twenty feet. Nevertheless, the
bore of her displacement lifted the schooner's stern gently and made her
dip her bow to the sea in a stately curtsey.

"If she'd a-hit . . . " Captain Doane murmured and