Twist of Sand — Geoffrey Jenkins

Stein saw the white death in front of him and blenched. His face turned a sickly green and he pulled out the Luger.
"Get back " he screamed. "Astern, astern " He groped madly for the telegraph, pitching John, who was at the wheel, on the plating of the bridge.
I was afraid of Stein, but I was scared to death of the sand-bars of the Curva dos Dunas.
"You bloody fool " I shouted. As I spun the wheel back I hit Stein across the face with the back of my left hand and he went reeling to his knees...

"The reader reaches the last page panting." -Sunday Times