The huge lighter, on which could be seen indistinctly the forms of the four men, was being driven rapidly toward the stranded steamer, and it was not necessary one should have much experience in such matters to understand that if she struck the wreck there was little hope the four men could gain the shore alive.
If the crew had been on the cliff with the beach-apparatus, watching others being swept down the coast in such fashion, it would not have appeared to be a particularly dangerous position, because a line could be fired across the wreck, or the surf-boat pulled to wheresoever the lighter might come to grief.
Now, however, there was no one on shore to lend assistance, and, as a matter of fact, every member of the crew was in extreme peril.
Benny watched his helpless comrades as he pulled at the oar while awaiting the opportunity to lay hold of a life-preserver, and, observing that he was not yet prepared for what lay before them, Robbins asked sharply:
“Didn’t you hear what the keeper said?”
“Yes, sir; but I can’t reach one of the jackets without dropping my oar.”
“Let it go, then! None of us are doing very much good now while the wind has such a firm grip on us, and your strength won’t be missed. This is the time when you must have your wits well about you, lad, and it’s no easy matter to keep a clear head while floundering in the surf.”
“Is it certain we’ll all be thrown out?” Benny asked as he took up one of the jackets and began adjusting it.
“There’s no help for it. If we’re lucky, it may be possible to get the surf-boat afloat before that lumberin’ lighter strikes; but I’m doubtful as to our succeeding. In all my experience on this coast I never before saw the life savers so completely knocked out as they appear to be now.”
The four men on the unwieldy craft could be seen making such provisions for their own safety as was possible under the circumstances. Just abaft of where the windlass had stood was a narrow hatchway leading to the shallow hold, and around the combing of this they ran a short length of rope to form a life-line. It was a poor makeshift, but one on which might depend the lives of four men.