It was Miss Jessie who asked this, her lips close to the young skipper’s ear, for the gale’s roar now drowned out all ordinary tones.
“Do you see that line of spray?” asked Halstead, pointing to where the water dashed over the reef.
“Yes.”
“I’m wondering if it’s possible for us not to be dashed on that.”
“Wrecked?” demanded Jessie, her face paling, but her lips steady.
“That’s one of our dangers.”
“And that will mean that we must be drowned?”
“We’ll hope not,” replied Halstead, forcing a smile. “Joe! Jed!”
Getting his friends where Mrs. Lester could not overhear, Halstead went on quickly:
“If we go to smash on the reef, remember that I’m to take the mother into the water. Joe, you take the elder daughter; Jed, you the younger one. If we have to get into the water with women’s lives to save, remember the glory of American seamen!”