"What's the matter?" came in tones of impatience from the kitchen. "Have you all gone crazy?"
"I'm comin' down to tell you about it," Sidney cried, and a moment later the second assistant's face paled as he learned that human beings who stood in sore need of aid were probably near at hand.
"It'll be a case of seein' the poor creeters perish right under our noses!" he exclaimed. "What with Cap'n Eph so lame that he can't stand on more'n one leg, an' me laid up through bein' pretty nigh broiled, this 'ere crew ain't in shape to lend a hand, no matter how much sufferin' may heave in sight."
Mr. Peters had gone into the lantern after helping the lad move Captain Eph, and, because he found it difficult to remain in any one place very long at a time, Sidney went up to him.
The first assistant was standing near the lens, looking into the glass intently, and Sidney asked in surprise:
"What's the matter? Anything wrong there?"
"Not a bit, Sonny; I was tryin' to figger somethin' out."
"Has it to do with the lens, that you are looking at it so sharply?" Sidney asked, and Mr. Peters wheeled suddenly around as he replied:
"I declare I don't know why my eyes happened to be on that, for it hadn't anything to do with what is in my mind. I was tryin' to figger how we might lend a hand if that 'ere dory strikes the ledge, as I reckon she will."
"You couldn't even stand on the rocks, while the sea is running as it is now."