The gray light of the coming day had dispelled the darkness in some slight degree: but the swirling downpour of snow was so great that it was impossible to make out the crests of the surges twenty feet away, yet all four remained at the window silent and motionless.
Then came that which they feared to hear—another dull report brought on the wings of the gale, and there was no longer any doubt in the minds of the keepers.
"God help 'em!" Captain Eph cried fervently as he began to pace the room nervously, and Sidney asked:
"Help who, sir?"
"The poor wretches who are firin' that 'ere gun with the idee that there may be some one near who can give 'em a hand."
"Do you mean that there is a wreck?" the lad asked, speaking in a tone so low that none save the old keeper heard him.
"Ay, Sonny. This ledge makes off to the east'ard near half a mile, an' the craft, whatever she may be, has struck there."
"How can you tell without seeing her, sir?" Sidney asked, as if hoping to convince the keeper that he had made a mistake.
"In the first place, she must be there because the wind brings to us the sound of her signal gun; she might be only half as far away on the other side, an' we couldn't hear anything, owin' to the gale."
"She must be a large craft, else she wouldn't have a gun aboard," Mr. Peters suggested, and Uncle Zenas nodded in token that he was of the same opinion.