Fast as was their progress, however, it seemed but a crawl to the anxious group gathered on the bridge, and Bert went below to send an encouraging message to the unfortunate operator on the other ship.
Crash! crash! and the powerful current crackled and flashed from the wires.
"Keep up courage," was the message Bert sent, "keep up courage, and we will get help to you soon. Are about ten knots from you now."
For a few minutes there was no reply, and, when the receiver finally clicked, Bert could hardly catch the answer, so faint was it.
"The dynamo has stopped," it read, "and batteries are almost exhausted. Heard shouting from the crew's quarters a short time ago, and think the tiger is probably trying to break in there. A--few minutes--more--" but here the sounder ceased, and Bert, in spite of his frantic efforts, was unable to get another word, good or bad. Finally, giving the attempt up as hopeless, he made his way to the bridge, where Captain Manning and the first officer were absorbed over a chart.
"We can't be very far from them now, sir," the latter was saying. "At the rate this old boat's going now we ought to sight them pretty soon, don't you think so, sir?"
"We surely should," replied the captain. "But I wonder if Wilson has heard any more from them. As long as--ah, here you are, eh, Mr. Wilson? What's the latest news from the distressed vessel?"
"Pretty bad, sir," said Bert. "The crew seems to have become panic-stricken, including the engine-room force, and they've allowed the dynamo to stop. The wireless man didn't have enough current left from the batteries to finish the message he was sending. He did say, though, that the tiger was raising a rumpus up forward, and trying to break into the men's quarters. I can only hope, sir, that we will not arrive too late."
"I hope so, indeed," responded Captain Manning, gloomily, "but even if we get there before the beast has gotten at them, we'll have our work cut out for us. We have no adequate weapons on board, and we can't hope to cope with a foe like that barehanded."
"That's very true," said the first officer, scratching his head. "I rather had a feeling that all we had to do was to get there and kill the tiger, but I must confess I hadn't figured out how. However," he added, "I've got a brace of pistols in my cabin, and I suppose you have, too, haven't you, sir?" addressing the captain.