"Why, up anchor, and go after him with the schooner."
"The schooner's hard and fast," said Captain Corbet, mournfully.
"Hard and fast?"
"Yes; don't you notice how she leans? It's only a little, but that's a sign that her keel's in the mud."
"I don't believe it! I won't believe it!" cried Arthur. "Come, boys, up with the anchor."
As the boys rushed to the windlass, Captain Corbet went there, too, followed by the mate, and they worked at it for some time, until at last the anchor rose to the surface.
But the Antelope did not move. On the contrary, a still greater list to one side, which was now unmistakable, showed that the captain was right, and that she was actually, as he said, hard and fast. This fact had to be recognized, but Arthur would not be satisfied until he had actually seen the anchor, and then he knew that the vessel was really aground.
"Do you mean to say," he cried at last, "that there is nothing to be done?"
"I don't see," said Captain Corbet, "what thar is to be done till the schewner muves."
"When will that be?"