And the German was as good as his word.  The next afternoon Bob suddenly felt himself being pitched over the rail toward the sea.  He yelled and made a grab for the mizzen shroud near which he was standing, but he suddenly found himself brought up with a round turn, for the German had caught the boy’s feet in a bight of cable, so that he would not go overboard.

“So!” he exclaimed.  “You sews up my sleeves, eh?  I t’inks you don’t do so no more!  Eh?”

“More tricks!” exclaimed the captain, when matters had been explained to him, “I wonder if he’ll ever be cured?”

But Bob’s cure was nearer at hand than either he or the captain expected.

The fine weather continued for a week, during which time the Eagle made good progress.  Then came several days of dead calm, when they were near the Tropic of Capricorn, and they suffered much from the heat of the sun.

“I don’t like this,” remarked Captain Spark one day, as he looked up at the brassy sky.

“Why not?” asked Bob, with the familiarity of a relative.

“I think this means a storm, and we’re in a poor location for a bad blow.  I don’t like it.”

As the day wore on it became evident that the captain’s prophecy was about to be verified.  The wind sprang up suddenly, almost before sail could be shortened, and the Eagle heeled over until if seemed as if she would not right.  That was the beginning of a storm that was worse than the other.

Scudding along under mere rags of canvas, the ship headed right into the swirl of waters agitated by the wind.  As night settled down the captain prepared for the worst.  It was evident that he feared something, and every man was on the alert.

The wind increased, but there was no rain.  On and on rushed the ship, all through the night.  The captain seemed to grow more anxious and would not leave his place at the wheel.

Suddenly, just as the darkness was giving place to the gray light of morning, the Eagle hit something.  A shiver seemed to run through the whole length of the ship.

“Breakers ahead!” yelled the lookout.  “Breakers all around us!”

“I feared as much!” cried the captain.  “We’ve struck on a reef!”

The Eagle seemed to back off, probably the recoil from the blow.  The wind swirled around, and then, once more, the good ship was driven on the rocks.

Once more she crashed upon the low-lying barrier, and this time an ominous splintering sound followed.  There was a terrific crash, and the foremast went by the board.  At the same time there was a pounding beneath the bows of the vessel.

“There’s a big hole stove in the bows, sir!” cried a sailor, running to Captain Spark.  “The water’s coming in fast!”

“I’m afraid we’re foundering!” added Mr. Carr.

“Stand by to lower the lifeboats!” yelled the captain.  “Every man to his place!”