Chapter Seven
Later that night, the compass went wild. Englehorn noticed and peered over Mr. Hayes's shoulder to look at it. "Check our position. Use the stars," Englehorn instructed, taking the helm.
Mr. Hayes quickly walked out with an instrument in hand. Almost immediately, Victoria bumped into him. She almost fell, but Hayes caught her with a hand on her middle back and pulled her easily back up. She looked up at him seriously and said, "There are no stars."
Hayes looked up and saw that she was right. "Captain, she's right," he said.
Less than a minute later, the fog began to roll in. Victoria's eyes became sad and she whispered, "I was right." The fog horn began to sound.
Quickly, Victoria walked over to the railing and looked out. There was only fog.
"Station a forward lookout, and get me the depth by that line," Englehorn instructed, attempting to peer through the fog. A crew member hastened to obey.
"Reduce speed," Englehorn said when he heard that they hadn't found the bottom yet. "Steerage way only."
"Slow ahead both," Mr. Hayes repeated.
Victoria's eyes were locked on the course in front of them. "We should turn back," she whispered.
"Fifteen degrees port. We're getting out of here, Mr. Hayes, and find clear conditions," Englehorn said, allowing Victoria to sigh in relief.
A second later, a crew member shouted, "We have seabed!"
"We're shallowing!" Hayes exclaimed.
"Twenty degrees South," Englehorn said, turning the wheel.
"Captain, you don't know where the hell you're goin'!" Hayes exclaimed, rushing toward the helm.
"Get me another reading!" Englehorn exclaimed.
"Another reading!" Hayes shouted.
"22 fathoms," the reply came as.
"It's the island," Victoria said quietly, looking ahead in dread fascination.
"Douse the lights," Englehorn said. Still, he attempted to peer through the thick fog.
"Ten fathoms!" the next reading came in.
"Wall! There's a wall ahead!" Jimmy shouted from the crow's nest. Seconds later, Victoria could see it. It was a massive structure of ancient stone.
"Stop engines!" Englehorn exclaimed, turning the wheel again. He was trying to avoid the rocks.
The bow of the ship hit the rock, sending people jerking forward. Victoria grabbed the railing and clung to it.
"Get me some power! Half-stern power!" Englehorn exclaimed.
"Rocks!" the shout came from below. Jack!
"Rocks to starboard, captain! To port! Rocks everywhere!" Jimmy yelled.
"Take the wheel, Hayes," Englehorn said quickly.
Suddenly, the ship tossed to the side, colliding with one of the huge rocks that barred their path. The ship began to roll to its side, but the rock stopped it from capsizing.
In this whole event, Victoria gripped the railing outside the wheel house. However, all of her strength was not sufficient to prevent her from slipping, for the railing was slightly damp from the large waves that had been crashing against the ship for some minutes in this new weather.
Her hand fell away from the slick railing, though the ship had thankfully stopped rocking. However, the floor was slick from the spray of the ocean. The momentum of her fall sent her sliding across the floor and into the far railing. Instinctively, Victoria grasped the railing, just barely saving herself from being thrown overboard.
"Victoria!" three voices yelled in quick succession. She did not have the presence of mind to even fully recognize the familiar voices.
As her vision faded, Victoria could see the outline of two people running to her. With the coming blackness came the feel of something warm wrapping around her wrist. Her grip relaxed as she surrendered her consciousness.
