"There is no question of real danger," said Elsa quickly.
"Bless my soul! my dear young lady!" cried the President, who had turned very pale.
"We are very near in shore, and the sea is tolerably quiet," said Elsa.
"What do you know about it?" cried the General. "The sea is not a thing to be trifled with."
"I am not trifling, papa," said Elsa.
The hasty movements and shouts and cries that suddenly surrounded them on all sides, and the singular and uncomfortable position of the ship, all sufficiently proved that the prediction of the "Indefatigable" had come true, and that the steamer was aground.
CHAPTER II.
Every effort to get the ship off had proved unavailing; indeed, it might even be considered fortunate that the screw had not been broken by the tremendous effort required of it. The ship had not heeled over any more, however; and if the night were not stormy, they might lie here peaceably till the next morning, when a passing vessel could take off the passengers and carry them farther on their journey, if they had not got afloat before then, which, indeed, might happen at any moment.
So spoke the Captain, whose coolness was undisturbed by the misfortune which his own obstinacy had caused.
There was the fact that on the charts, by which he and every other captain had to steer, fifteen feet were marked at this place; and the gentlemen at the head of affairs might take the blame to themselves and provide better charts, or, at any rate, proper buoys. And if, as he very well knew, other captains had for years past avoided this shoal, and had preferred to go some miles out of their way, he had constantly since then, and even the day before yesterday, crossed this very spot. However, he had no objection to launching the large boat and landing the passengers, for them to get on their way afterwards as best they could.