"I don't remember anything about them, Tom, and we have sailed along there a score of times."
"No, sir, we don't take no account of them in small craft, and there is a fathom and a half of water over them even in spring-tides. Springs are on now, and there ain't much above nine foot just now; and that craft draws two fathom and a half or thereabouts, over twelve foot anyhow. But it don't make much difference; wherever she strikes she will go to pieces in this sea in a few minutes."
"Surely there is something to be done, Tom?"
"Some of us are just going down to get ropes and go along the shore, Mr. Horace; but Lor' bless you, one just does it for the sake of doing something. One knows well enough that it ain't likely we shall get a chance of saving a soul."
"But couldn't some of the boats go out, Tom? There would be plenty of water for them where she strikes."
"The fishermen have been talking about it, sir; but they are all of one opinion; the sea is altogether too heavy for them."
"But the _Surf_ could go, couldn't she, Tom? You have always said she could stand any sea."
"Any reasonable sort of sea, Mr. Horace, but this is a downright onreasonable sort of sea for a craft of her size, and it is a deal worse near shore where the water begins to shallow than it would be out in the channel."
But though Tom Burdett spoke strongly, Horace noticed that his tone was not so decided as when he said that the fishing-boats could not go out.
"Look here, Tom," he said, "I suppose there must be thirty hands on board that ship. We can't see them drowned without making a try to save them. We have got the best boat here on the coast. We have been out in some bad weather in her, and she has always behaved splendidly. I vote we try. She can fetch out between the piers all right from where she is moored; and if, when we get fairly out, we find it is altogether too much for her, we could put back again."
Tom made no answer. He was standing looking at the ship. He had been already turning it over in his mind whether it would not be possible for the _Surf_ to put out. He had himself an immense faith in her sea-going qualities, and believed that she might be able to stand even this sea.
"But you wouldn't be thinking of going in her, Mr. Horace?" he said doubtfully at last.