Page:Under Dewey at Manila.djvu/185

Rh "And you don't know about the craft—if she is O. K. or not?"

"I am afraid something must have happened, for Captain Ponsberry wouldn't desert us like this, would he?"

"Cap'n Ponsberry was knocked out by the lightning—don't you remember Tom Grandon sayin' so? But Tom wouldn't desert us; I know him too well. Yes, I'm afraid the ship has had a tough time of it, and maybe she's at the bottom of the China Sea this minit." Striker drew a deep breath. "We're in a pickle, lad, jest about as deep as we can git!"

"I know I am dying for a drink. Oh, if only we could sight land somewhere! Are we far from Formosa?"

"Formosa? Why, lad, we've been driving south'ard as fast as we could for forty-eight hours. We are closer to some o' the Philippines nor anything—though I allow as they must be miles an' miles away. Yet I'm prayin' myself we may strike some land afore we see Davy Jones' locker."

With some of the dangling ropes Striker had made himself a sort of seat beside the mast, and now Larry went to work, on the opposite side, to do the