o the ground safe. He was on his
feet instantly, turning to his cousin with a look where certainty and
inquiry were mingled. But as he opened his mouth to speak, a sudden
jar under them was followed by a terrific crash, and in a moment a
fearful list of the great vessel disclosed the worst.

The transport had been struck by a submarine and was sinking. Water
rushed into the engine-room and rose toward the immense bed of living
coals in the furnaces. There was a savage hiss of steam. The ship
listed rapidly to port. A rapid ringing of bells cut the air. The
chief listened. It was the danger signal, never sounded when any hope
of saving the ship remained.

"Up to the deck for your lives!" he roared, and throwing down the
shovels and rakes, the men and the two boys sped for the entrances.
They struggled up with a mob of terrified men who pushed and fought.
More and more the big boat leaned to the sea. When Zaidos finally
gained the deck, one rail nearly touched the water. He thought she
would go under immediately, but thanks to some uninjured air chamber
below, she hung balanced. On the bridge the Captain shouted through a
megaphone.

"Jump before she goes!" he cried. "Swim away from the wreck!"

Zaidos, forgetting all but the present danger, seized his cousin by the
arm and rushed him to the side of the ship.

"Jump!" he cried.

"No!" screamed Velo. "No, no! I am going to stay here!"

"Don't you hear the Captain?" cried Zaidos. "Jump! Jump!"

Velo pulled back and Zaidos urged him toward the heaving water.

"It's our one chance, Velo!" he cried. "We will go down with the ship
if we stay."

He suddenly gave Velo a push and flung him into the water. Together
they swam rapidly from the rail. As though to give the soldiers the
one slim chance for their lives, the ship, leaning on its side, still
balanced at the lip of the sea. Then with a sickening roar the vessel
went down. Zaidos looked over his shoulder. On the bridge, white
haired, erect, undismayed, stood the Captain. As the waters engulfed
him he even smiled. A fearful force dragged at the boys and swept them
toward the great whirlpool made by the ship. They swam desperately,
and just as strength seemed to fail, the pressure was released and they
floated in a sea covered with wreckage and with swimming or drowning
men.

The boys were swimming close together when Velo gave a cry and clasped
Zaidos around the neck in a choking grip.