h of lightning showed them the true situation. The Valkyrie lay with her bow ashore amidst what appeared to be a confused tangle of roots and low growing shrubs. More than this it was impossible

ly trying to get one of the two remaining boats over the side regardless of the mountainous sea that was running. The play of the lightning was incessant. The whole sky appeared to be abla

ands, go slipping and sliding across the inclined deck and

eard Hemming shout above the tempest.

ed in getting it overboard. Then they piled into it helter skelter. Some of them fell overboard in their eagerness, but by the g

able that the boat would be smashed to bits against the yacht's side. But those on board her managed to stave the frail craft

ulwarks peering into the night. They were shout

s and hurled them broadcast before

breaki

ar as the two boys, clinging to the

hands to his mouth, funnel-wise, "she's grounded so fa

how the others are getting on,

with redoubled force. Slipping along the precipitous deck they made their way to the cabin companionway. As they went they noticed the marks of the relentless axes of t

ring. It will be recalled that when Jack and Tom had been summarily taken from the cabin they shared with D

s of the "Morse" tappings. But Dick's knowledge of telegraphy was so limited that he had not been able to understand much of what was communicated to him. Nor had he been ab

er the strain of their captivity and their uncertainty concerning Jack and Tom, Mr. Chadwick's health had suffered seriously. Dick, too, had suffered from a kind of tropical fever, and lay in a semi-conscious

uld be open, in which case Dick might make his way into the main cabin and unlock their door in which they knew the key was kept. What the

determined to try to remove the partition separating him from the next room. It was in panels, as he knew, and with the aid of his knife, which, lucki

and found himself look

fles and pistols. It was, in fact, Medway's cabin, to which he had removed the yacht's armory so as t

abin he stood stock still, undetermined what to do. After a minute's reflection he decided to see if the door would open. Bu

en in his usual health he would have been no match for the burly Hemming, bu

ou doing in here?" bellowed Hemming

on the wall. Hemming paused as the boy leveled the weapon at him. But the next instant he sprang forward as if to

d, but there wa

ushed him, but just as his hands were on Dick's throat the

in the cabin. Dazed and half stunned, he stood still trying to collect his thoughts. Suddenly there c

ck made out above t

on and showed him that the lower part of the place was awash with water. He had hardly time to reali