gale.

CHAPTER IV

"WHO ARE YOU?"

For a moment terror held the Racer boys motionless. The danger had
come so suddenly that it deprived them of the power to think. Then
came the reaction, and they were themselves once more.

"Quick! Throw your helm over! We can just make it!" yelled Frank.
"I'll attend to the sheet--you manage the tiller! Lively now!"

Andy needed no second command. He fairly threw himself at the helm,
and with all his strength forced it hard over. The shortened sail
rounded out with the pressure of the wind on it, and the _Gull_ heeled
over at dangerous angle. Under her keel came that ominous scraping
sound that told of her passage over part of the Shark's Teeth.

"It's a submerged rock!" shouted Andy. "We may scrape over it!"

"Let's hope so!" murmured Frank, as he looked hastily down at the
unconscious form of the strange lad. Then he gave all his attention to
the rope that controlled the end of the swinging boom.

With the same suddenness that it had come upon them, the danger was
past. The _Gull_ slid into deep water, and the hearts of the boys beat
in glad relief. Rapidly the craft paid off until she was well away
from the ugly black points that could be seen, now and then, rearing up
amid a smother of foam.

"Round about and beat for home!" yelled Frank. "Whoever this fellow
is, he needs a doctor right away. I hope the wind holds out."

"Did you learn who he was?" asked Andy, as he gave his attention to
putting the boat on the proper course.

"No. How could I? He was as weak as a cat when I got to him, but he
had sense enough not to grab me. He knows how to swim all right, but
something is the matter with his left arm."

"Think it's broken?"

"I don't know. It's a wonder he wasn't killed when that boat blew up.
He must have been hurt in some way, or he wouldn't be unconscious."

"Maybe it's because he's nearly drowned. He may be half full of water."

"That's so," agreed Frank. "I'll see what I can do for him while you
steer. Make all you can on each tack."

They were fast leaving behind them the wrecked motor boat which bobbed
about on the waves. It was no longer on fire, and the brothers would
liked to have towed it to the pier, but this was impossible in the
storm.

Then, as his brother skillfully managed the sailboat, Frank once more
bent over the unconscious form. He knew what to do in giving first aid
to partly drowned persons, and lost no ti