[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.In almost the same moment Sandy, who was also trying to hoist himself into anerect position in front of the cupboards, toppled forward in a similar defeat.After an instant's silence each of them asked the same question."You O.K.?""Sure," Sandy said, past clenched teeth."Sure," Ken echoed.Ken edged himself into position once more, his chest almost touching the sideof the chair.He took a deep breath."Wait for the roll," Sandy said."It's coming."The barge dipped.Ken used all his energy in an attempt to straighten hisknees.He got halfway up.For a second he seemed suspended in mid-air.Thenhis knees began to buckle.With a last desperate effort he twisted around.When he fell he hit the very edge of the chair and hung there, his body in along slant that touched the chair seat midway between his hips and his knees.Almost immediately he began to slide downward as the barge reversed its tilt.Ken threw his head far back.His bound hands scrabbled for a hold on thePage 69 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlslippery wood.With all his might he pushed his heels against the floor,trying to hold his position against the pull of the deck beneath him.He was fighting a losing battle when the barge reached the depth of its diveand began to climb.WITH THE HELP OF FIRE 177Slowly, a fraction of an inch at a time, he moved backward onto the seat ofthe chair."You're almost on!" Across the room Sandy had abandoned his own efforts for amoment in his anxiety over Ken."Push!"Ken gave one final shove and then let his breath out with a gasp.He had madeit! He slumped against the chair back, his chest rising and falling with thegulps of air he was sucking into his lungs.After a moment he swung his feet up off the floor and onto Cal's chest.Theylanded some six inches from Gal's chin."O.K.," Ken said."He's under control.One little backward jerk and I cansubdue any ambitions he might develop.The only trouble is I can't see hisface.So give me a signal if you see him beginning to open his eyes.""It will be a pleasure," Sandy assured him.Then the redhead returned to his own problem.The cupboard knobs were morethan five feet above the floor.There was no way to reach them withoutstanding up.Sandy made one more gigantic effort to thrust himself upright from his knees.For an instant he seemed to have succeeded.And then the barge gave anunexpected sideways lurch and Sandy fell heavily on his side.He lay there perfectly still, his eyes shut in a face that looked startlinglywhite in the flickering light of the lamp."Sandy!" Ken jerked forward involuntarily but caught himself just before helost his hard-won position178 THE MYSTERY OF THE IRON BOXon the chair."Sandy!" he repeated urgently."Are?>? jSandy opened one eye."I'm-all right," he gasped.He raised his head slightly and his mouth tightened with pain."But I think I must have twisted my ankle a little when I fell," he went onafter a moment."I don't think I can put my weight on it for a while, even ifI could get upright.""Don't try it," Ken said quickly."You're going to be no help if you'reknocked out." His eyes searched the room frantically."There must be somethingaround here we can use to get out of these ropes." His voice lifted suddenly."Maybe Gal's got a knife in his pocket!"He leaned forward instinctively toward the body beneath him."Don't get off the chair!" Sandy said quickly."I'll come over."Again hope seemed to have given him new strength.Slowly at first, and then alittle faster, he squirmed his way over the floor.Sitting down near Cal, withhis back toward the unconscious man, his bound hands began to fumble with thefastenings of Cal's oilskins.Five minutes went by, and then ten more, before Sandy had explored everypocket in the man's clothes."Nothing," he said."I guess we're-" A slight movement caught his glance.Cal's eyelid was fluttering.His head turned."Ken!" Sandy said quickly."He's coming to!"Ken jerked his heels backward.They smacked against Cal's chin.WITH THE HELP OF FIRE 179Sandy bent forward for a careful look."All right," he said."You've takencare of him."Neither of them spoke for a moment."We've done the hardest part," Ken finally burst out."We've got Cal out ofthe way.Don't tell me we're stuck now!"Sandy didn't answer."Do you suppose I could chew through those ropes on your wrists?" Ken asked.Page 70 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlSandy grinned faintly."In about three days, maybe -if they were well boiledfirst, to tenderize them.""But there must be-" Ken broke off."Listen!" ; "Listen to what?" « "Thepump's not running!"Sandy concentrated, his head nodding slowly.The reassuring chug of thegasoline engine was no longer audible."How long ago do you think it happened?" Sandy asked quickly."I don't know.I just noticed it."Sandy's eyes sought the clock."Almost eight," he muttered.A glance at the window told him that the hour wascorrect.The grayness outside would have been daylight if the weather wereless stormy."We're probably pretty well out to sea," Sandy said."So theweather will be getting worse, if anything.A while ago we were afraid they'dturn back.Now." His voice sank to a whisper."We're not licked yet," Ken said stubbornly."We can't be-not as long as thisthing is still afloat and we're still conscious."The barge shuddered as another solid wave poured180 THE MYSTERY OF THE IRON BOXover the bulwark and struck the cabin.The water seeping in under the door wascoming faster now."As long as this thing is still afloat," Sandy repeated, and shrugged."Thatmight not be long at this rate.""But if we're really in trouble," Ken said, "the barge up ahead will be ableto tell-now that it's getting light.""They may be able to tell," Sandy agreed, "though I doubt if they can even seeus in this weather.But there's not much they can do about it except cut ourtowline if it looks as if this tub were really going down.""Would they do that?" Ken sounded incredulous."What else could they do?" Sandy asked."You couldn't expect them to hold onand be carried down with us."Ken swallowed."We could always go overboard- with something to hang on to.Any piece of wood-""Sure," Sandy said."And how long do you think we'd last in this kind of asea-even with something to keep us afloat-when we're trussed up like this?""You mean," Ken said slowly, "that unless we get that pump going there'sreally a chance that-?"Sandy didn't wait for him to finish."That's just what I mean.The more watershe ships," he explained carefully, in a colorless voice, "the deeper sherides.And the deeper she rides, the more water she takes.It's what's knownas a vicious circle."Crash! That time the water dove full over the cabin roof, pouring down thewalls in solid sheets.How many like that, Ken wondered, would it take to fill the barge to itsgunwales and drag it under? How soon-?WITH THE HELP OF FERE 181But all thought blanked out of his mind as the barge careened far to one side.Ken fought to retain his place, digging his heels into Gal's rocklike chest.Sandy, with nothing to brace himself against, slid helplessly across the floortoward the hotly glowing stove."Sandy!" Ken shouted."Watch out!"But Sandy couldn't check his headlong dive.His shoulder struck hot metal.Even as he hit it he was twisting away, with all the strength of his muscles.But the smell of burned cloth quickly filled the air.And as Sandy managed tolunge himself toward the wall, and safety, Ken could see the charred blackburn on the sleeve of his windbreaker."Did it go through?" Ken asked."Are you burned?"To his amazement Sandy's answering voice was suddenly strong-almost cheerful."I just got warmed up," he said.He twisted around so that Ken could see hisface."We'll beat this thing yet, Ken."Ken stared at him
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
