These had been got into readiness; it was not thought that they would get any hold on the rocky bottom, still they might catch on a projecting ledge and at any rate their weight and that of the chain cable would relieve the strain upon the hawser.
Two sailors had run out on the bowsprit of the wreck as soon as the line was thrown, and the end of the hawser was now on board the steamer.
“Thank God, there’s Grantham!” Jack Harvey Exclaimed; “do you see him waving his hand?”{192}
“I see him,” Tom said, “but I don’t see the ladies.”
“They are there, no doubt,” Jack said confidently; “crouching down, I expect. He would not be there if they weren’t, you may be sure. Yes, there they are; those two muffled-up figures. There, one of them has thrown back her cloak and is waving her arm.”
The two young men waved their caps.
“Are the anchors holding, Watkins? There’s a tremendous strain on that hawser.”
“I think so, sir; they are both tight.”
“Put them round the windlass, and give a turn or two, we must relieve the strain on that hawser.”
Since they had first seen the wreck the waves had made great progress in the work of destruction, and the steamer had broken in two just aft of the engines.