ll. There was a grinding of wood
against wood which caused the deck under their feet to tremble. Still
neither moved. The terrible thought that the derelict was going to
pieces was in both their minds. They had no doubt of this now. They
simply waited.

Virginia had no great fear. Her dominant thought was the dread of the
first immersion in the cold, cruel, black waters. But it would not
last long. Not long, not long--these two words kept ringing in her
mind. Her shoulders were drawn up, as though preparing for the shock.

Dan had not moved. Half crouching, half kneeling, his eyes were
fastened upon the vague deck ahead. Now, as though the elements had
worked to give him sight, the black sky was suddenly seared by a long,
lurid line of lightning. It was but the fraction of a second; it was
long enough. In that blue glow the derelict took form, grim, ghostly,
heaving, as a spirit picture might be thrown upon a black cloth, every
detail limned in filmy perfection.

With a cry Dan leaped to his feet and seized an axe lying by his side.

"We are not breaking," he shouted. "The mast has torn out of its step
and is pounding us. I am going to cut it away. We shall be all right."

The girl heard his voice, caught the enthusiasm of it, but
distinguished not a single word. As he crawled slowly by the side of
the cabin to the steps leading to the deck she half arose as though to
follow him.

"Dan, Dan," she cried, "don't leave me!"

He waved her back, and a second later had gained the deck. For a few
minutes she sat there, wondering, fearing, and then in a lull in the
storm she heard the blows of the axe. A great wave rose over the
quarter and ran forward with a roar. There came a shout. She
listened. The sounds of the axe were heard no more.

"Dan!" she called. "Dan!" Her words were whistled away on the wind.

In desperation she worked her way to the steps and peered down upon the
deck. She heard nothing but the wind and the waves. And then with her
hair streaming wild, with lips bloodless, she stood upright and rushed
to the deck. The wind tore at her, flying water buffeted her, and the
hulk swayed under her feet; but, as though endowed with superhuman
power, as though scorning the elements to which she had bowed through
the night she ran forward, heedless of everything but that her
companion was in danger.

Where she was going she knew not, nor cared. A hand grasped the end of
her slicker