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The swirl of the water as they came nearer made a roaring sound that was
fearful to listen to. So fierce and powerful was the whirlpool that it drew the
surface of the sea into the form of a great basin, slanting downward toward
the center, where a big hole had been made in the ocean--a hole with walls of
water that were kept in place by the rapid whirling of the air.
The boat in which Trot and Cap'n Bill were riding was just on the outer edge
of this saucer-like slant, and the old sailor knew very well that unless he could
quickly force the little craft away from the rushing current they would soon be
drawn into the great black hole that yawned in the middle. So he exerted all
his might and pulled as he had never pulled before. He pulled so hard that the
left oar snapped in two and sent Cap'n Bill sprawling upon the bottom of the
boat.
He scrambled up quickly enough and glanced over the side. Then he looked at
Trot, who sat quite still, with a serious, far-away look in her sweet eyes. The
boat was now speeding swiftly of its own accord, following the line of the
circular basin round and round and gradually drawing nearer to the great
hole in the center. Any further effort to escape the whirlpool was useless, and
realizing this fact Cap'n Bill turned toward Trot and put an arm around her,
as if to shield her from the awful fate before them. He did not try to speak,
because the roar of the waters would have drowned the sound of his voice.
These two faithful comrades had faced dangers before, but nothing to equal
that which now faced them. Yet Cap'n Bill, noting the look in Trot's eyes and
remembering how often she had been protected by unseen powers, did not
quite give way to despair.
The great hole in the dark water--now growing nearer and nearer--looked very
terrifying; but they were both brave enough to face it and await the result of
the adventure.
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