The wrecked Republique was still settling, and through one of the windows which was not buried in the sand they saw numerous dark objects floating about, including the bodies of some French sailors.
But now was no time to look upon such sights.
"We must get out of this," said the young captain. "The longer we remain here the deeper we will be buried in the sand and the harder it will be for us to get away."
"Right you are," answered his lieutenant. "But how shall we move?"
That was a difficult question to answer just then, for nothing could be seen excepting out of one window on the left side and out of one window in the rear.
"I think we had better try to back first," said Captain Oscar. "Dross, put on all power."
"Aye! aye!" responded the old engineer, and soon the dynamos on board were working as never before. But though the screws revolved with lightning-like rapidity, the new Holland scarcely budged. The screws whirled the sand in every direction, sending it against the rear window like, a sheet of hail.
"We don't move," said Andy Greggs.
"Try to go ahead," suggested Captain Oscar, "Have we reached the limit of our power?"
"We have," answered the old engineer.