It was a marvel she did not go down then and there, but they continued to scrape and slide along the side of the vessel, which was heaving at anchor. The shock was felt on board the vessel. As the boys looked up there was a faint gleam of light, and a man looked down at them from the rail. He snarled out something at them, but the shrieking wind drowned his words, and they did not understand what he said. The boat cleared the vessel and went wallowing across the dark waters of the cove. “Can’t strike steamboat pier,” muttered Frank. “Strike shore beyond. Bound to swim for it.” Then he called to the others: “All ready, fellows! Got to swim. We’re all right now, if we stand by each other.” They knew they would be in the water directly, but they were not scared now, for what was before them was nothing beside what they had escaped. “Harry, are you ready?” called Frank. “All ready, Merry,” came back, promptly. “Ready, Jack?” “Sure,” answered Diamond’s voice. “And you, Bruce?” “I’m too fat to sink, don’t worry about me,” said Browning, with a laugh. “How about you, Bart?” No answer. “Hodge, are you ready?” called Frank. No answer. “What’s the matter with him? Why doesn’t he speak?” “Where is he?” asked Rattleton, excitedly. “Isn’t he here?” “No! He is gone!” “Impossible.” But it was true; Hodge was not in the boat. He had disappeared in a most remarkable manner, as if he had been dragged from the boat by the grim demons of the deep. There was no time to think about this most astounding and terrible discovery. They had stopped bailing for a few seconds, but the water had continued to rush in, and now, without so much as one last faint struggle, the _Jolly Sport_ floundered and sank. “She’s going!” screamed Harry. “Jump!” cried Frank. He saw them rise and plunge into the cold water, and then, with some trouble, he cleared the dripping sail that sought to settle down over his head and drag him under with the _Jolly Sport_. They were close to the shore, else they could not have escaped even then. They helped each other out, and dragged themselves upon the bank, where they sank down, panting and helpless. Beyond the mouth of the cove the breakers roared, and now in their clamor there seemed a note of triumph, as if they knew not all of the crew on board the _Jolly Sport_ had escaped. And the four water-dripping lads who lay upon the shore were too numb for words. But their hearts were torn with grief, even though they had reached solid ground, for one of their number was not with them. Where was he? Had he been swept overboard by a wave and carried down without a sound? It did not seem possible. Frank was thinking of him. Where, when and how had it happened? Frank remembered that Bart had been silent all along, but he was sure Hodge had been in the boat when the black schooner so nearly ran them down. He was in the boat after that. The others remembered that he had helped them bail.