Page:Cruise of the Dry Dock.djvu/239

 Though it's sich an onrasonable tale, sir, I won't raysint it if ye call me a liar to me teeth.”

Madden had found the Englishman's heart still beating. He pressed his fingers in the long bloody wound on his head and the skull appeared sound enough under the long gash.

“Get him out on deck,” he ordered sharply, in an effort to keep his voice from choking in his throat.

“Out on deck! He's not dead! Get him in fresh air!”

Hogan, Deschaillon, and two navvies caught him by the legs and arms. Madden lifted the bleeding head from which the blood still ran in a steady trickle. The crowd gave back and the five men with their grewsome burden passed through the galley's door into the dark passage.

Just then a sudden vibration went through the whole ship, as if the Vulcan had been struck by some enormous force. The men carrying Smith staggered. There burst out a blare of confusion, amazed cries, shouts of terror. There was a stampede in the narrow passage. Flying men bumped into the bearers of the sick man. They were shrieking, “We're struck!