rang out through the heavy fog, as the two
crashes came, followed, a few seconds later, by a third.

Captain Barforth had left the steam yacht in charge of the first mate
and was on the companionway going below. With two bounds he was on
deck and running toward the bow at top speed.

"What was it? Have we a hole in the bow?" he questioned, of the
frightened lookouts, who had been sent spinning across the slippery
deck.

"Couldn't make out, captain--it was something black," said one
lookout. "Black and square like."

"I think it was a bit of old wreckage," said the other. "Anyway, it
wasn't another vessel, and it was too dark for a lumber raft."

"Is it out of sight?"

It was, and though all strained their eyes they could not make out
what had been struck, nor did they ever find out.

From the deck the captain made his way below, followed by Mr. Rover,
who was anxious to learn the extent of the injuries. In the meantime
the ladies and girls had joined the boys on the deck, and the latter
began to get out the life preservers.

The most excited man on board was Asa Carey, and without waiting for
orders from the captain, he ordered two of the small boats gotten
ready to swing overboard. Then he ran down to his stateroom, to get
some of his possessions.

"Is we gwine to de bottom?" questioned Aleck, as he appeared, clad in
a pair of slippers and a blanket.

"I don't know," answered Fred. "I hope not."

The boys had all they could do to keep the girls quiet, and Grace was
on the point of becoming hysterical, which was not to be wondered at,
considering the tremendous excitement.

"We cannot be so very far from one of the islands," said Dick. "And if
the worst comes to the worst we ought to be able to make shore in the
small boats."

"Are there enough boats?" asked Mrs. Laning.

"Yes, the steam yacht is well equipped with them."

The engine of the vessel had been stopped and the steam yacht lay like
a log on the rolling waves. The shocks had caused some of the lights
to go out, leaving the passengers in semi darkness.

"Oh, Dick, do you think we'll go down?" whispered Dora, as, she clung
to his arm.

"Let us hope not, Dora," he answered and caught her closer. "I'll
stick to you, no matter what comes!"

"Yes! yes! I want you to do that! And stick to mamma, too!"

"I will. But I don't think we'll go down just yet," he went on, after
a long pause. "We seem to be standing still, that's all."

They waite