“We couldn’t get it loose from the rudder,” said Phil, “and it wouldn’t be ours if we did save it.”
“It’s a great pity,” said Phœnix, “that this big steamboat should burn up, and everything be lost. There are people on the shore on the other side, and the folks are coming over the field on our side, but none of them can do any good.”
“Nothing could do any good,” said Chap, “except a steamboat with a fire-engine on board. It would be no use for any other kind of boat to come near her.”
“If she would only drift ashore,” said Phœnix, “it would be better than her sinking out here.”
“The current is so strong it keeps her out,” said Chap. “If the tide wasn’t running down so hard the wind would blow her in on our side.”
“If we could get this rudder round,” said Phil, “and keep it hard up, I believe the wind would take her in shore.”
“Yes,” said Chap; “but how are you going to do it? You couldn’t push a rudder around and make it fast.”
“Boys,” cried Phil, “let’s go aboard! There isn’t any danger, and if we can find a tiller up there we can ship it, and perhaps we can steer the old Wistar in shore.”
“But how would you get up?” asked Phœnix.
“If we stand up in the bow we can reach that little window,” said Phil. “If somebody below would give us a boost then we could throw up one hand and get hold of the railings. After that it would all be easy enough.”