Thus, their present position was a thousandfold more terrible than the one before.
But, still, only boys though they were, hope did not yet quite desert them.
The indomitable courage of youth triumphed over disaster.
For a few seconds neither could speak.
However, when the ship had disappeared, going away as silently as she had approached them, they bestirred themselves to see what damage the cutter had sustained.
Bob was the first to recall his scattered wits.
“Well, they haven’t sunk us, as I was afraid they would, Dick!” said he. “I wonder if any of the planks are really started?”
“How can we see, Master Bob?” asked Dick anxiously. “So as to know if she be all right?”
“Why, by baling her out,” he answered. “If we lessen the water in her, then we’ll know she’s all right.”
“But if the water don’t go down?”