"There's one chance," shouted Black McTee, and he pointed to the litter
of the wrecked wheelhouse which tossed on the waves. "Overboard and
make for a big timber."

But the eyes of Harrigan held on the form of the girl. They could only
make out the shadow of her form with her hair blowing wildly on the
wind. Then as swift as the sway of a bird's wing, a mass of black water
tossed over the side of the _Mary Rogers_. When it was gone, the
shadowy figure of the girl had disappeared with it.

"Now!" thundered McTee.

"Aye," said Harrigan.




CHAPTER 9


They climbed the rail. Plainly Harrigan had made them delay too long,
for now they had not time to swim beyond the reach of the swirl that
would form when the ship went down. The _Mary Rogers_ lurched to her
grave as they sprang from the rail. A wave caught them and washed them
beyond the grip of the whirlpool; another wave swung them back, and the
waters sucked them down. Such was the force of that downward pull that
it seemed to Harrigan as if a weight were attached to either foot. He
drew a great, gasping breath before his head went under and then struck
out with all his might.