XIV
DÉBÂCLE
The Trouble, meantime, was closing in upon the scene of tragedy with little less than locomotive speed. Yet, however suddenly disaster had overtaken the other
vessel, Whitaker saw what he saw and had time to take measures to avoid
collision, if what he did was accomplished wholly without conscious thought or
premeditation. He had applied the reversing gear to the motor before he knew it.
Then, while the engine choked, coughing angrily, and reversed with a heavy and
resentful pounding in the cylinder-heads, he began to strip off his coat. He was
within ten yards of the wreck when a wave overtook the Trouble and sent a sheet of water sprawling over her stern to fill the cockpit ankle-deep. The next instant
he swung the wheel over; the boat, moving forward despite the res
