Jack was asleep and dreaming.
* * * * *
But a terrible time of anxiety was being passed by those on deck.
The captain and Sturdy himself were both on the little three-plank bridge, hanging on to the rope-rail as if to a life-line.
Again and again Sturdy had shouted down the tube, "Get up steam as fast as possible!" Yet down there he knew the engineer and stokers were fighting like furies in the fierce heat of the engine-room. Well they knew how precious every minute, nay, every second, was. Bacon and even bladders of lard were put into the fire, but apparently without any result, although the flames roared high, and there was even danger of firing the padding betwixt boilers and bunkers.
Nearer and nearer loom the black rocks. Can they weather them? All that brave ship can do the Gurnet is doing. She is sailing as close to the wind as gull or frigate-bird. All that brave men can think of to save her has been done.
Again and again they imagine that they have passed the worst; again and again whale-back rocks rise ominously further ahead.
The captain, and even Sturdy, are now in despair, and the last command is given,—
"Stand by to man and lower boats!"
In such a case this would be the sailor's last resort. In such a sea it would be all but hopeless.