"Wait and trust to Providence."
"Let us jump overboard; I'd rather be drowned than burned to death. Come, Howard, let's jump over this minute!"
He made a move toward the stern of the steamer, near which they had been seated, as if he intended to spring overboard, when his arm was sternly caught by the Irishman, who said in an indignant tone:
"Kaap cool! kaap cool! don't make a fool of yoursilf. Can ye swim?"
"Yes," answered Howard, "we can both swim very well. Can you?"
"Indaad, I can—swim like a stone."
"But good heavens!" exclaimed Elwood, who had not entirely recovered from his excitement, "the land is miles off, and we can't swim there, not taking into account the heavy sea."
"What does that mean?"
As Howard spoke, the bow of the steamer made a sweeping bend to the right.
"They've headed toward shore," said Elwood.