It was a platitude, of course; but, in great emergencies, humanity always resorts to platitudes. They are familiar; made to order, as it were; and resorted to as the line of least resistance. There are certain conventional expressions to which man instinctively reverts. Men exclaim, "My God!" in the crisis, even though He be none of theirs and they have not hitherto known Him.
"In His hands, Miss, and mine," said the captain steadily with the assurance of the capable and efficient.
"What else have you done or planned?" asked Maynard.
"I've searched for the leak but we cannot locate it. The hours after the tidal wave were so full that it got a start on us, but we are keeping the pumps going while working away at the raft."
"Of course; but that is a last resort."
"I'm driving the ship as hard as I can, too, sir."
"In the hope of what?"
"There's an uninhabited island to the nor'west of us; hasn't even a name that anyone recognizes. I'm heading for it."
"Can you careen the ship there?"
The captain shook his head.