“Well,” he said—for our pace had been very smart indeed till then.
“I will have to think a little, sir.”
“Doesn't look as if there were much time to think,” he muttered sardonically from under his hand.
“No, sir,” I said with some warmth. “Not on board a ship I could see. But so many accidents have happened that I really can't remember what there's left for me to work with.”
Still half averted, and with his eyes concealed, he made unexpectedly a grunting remark.
“You've done very well.”
“Have I the two anchors at the bow, sir?” I asked.
“Yes.”
I prepared myself then, as a last hope for the ship, to let them both go in the most effectual manner, when his infernal system of testing resourcefulness came into play again.
“But there's only one cable. You've lost the other.”