Page:Barbour--Lost island.djvu/104

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THE PACIFIC QUEEN LOSES A PRIZE

cracked under the strain, the men did not succeed in getting far enough away to avoid the eddy.

The instant he noticed what was happening, Captain Chisholm stopped the engines of the Pacific Queen.

"Let go that hawser," came the order from the bridge. "Get another boat out quick. Be smart there."

Like lightning the men obeyed. The loss of their prize was forgotten for the moment, for human lives were in peril. There was no time to pick and choose who was to man the second dory. Those near at hand jumped in, Dave among them. Just as they pushed off from the side of the Pacific Queen the little craft containing Mr. Quick and eight men was caught by the outside of the whirlpool and began to spin round.

"Easy with your oars, lads," said the bo'sun in charge of the second dory. "We must keep out of that."

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