"If there was anybody aboard that knew of Cook's Crack!"
"How could anybody aboard that schooner know of Cook's Crack?" said Lloyd, contemptuously.
"That's so. How could they? Sure enough."
Then the boys blew on their fingers to keep them warm, and hustled in closer under the rocks, clasping their hands about their knees.
Now, to make you town boys understand, I must tell you that the schooners in summer landed at the village, which was a couple of miles from the point where the boys were. The shore off from where they sat was full of hidden rocks and sand bars running out under the froth and swirl of the waves, against which no ship could run without having her bottom ripped up.
But through these rocks there was one narrow opening, through which the sea ran clear and deep, making a safe channel to the shore. This was Cook's Crack. Very few of the fishermen knew of it. It was not likely, therefore, that anybody on board of the schooner would be able to pilot her through it.
"She's bound to run ashore," said Jem. "What'll we do, Lloyd?"
All the boys asked Lloyd what to do whenever there was any trouble. He did not answer at once, being busy considering.
"Go down to the village, Jem, and let some of the men go out with a boat to them!"
"That will be too late to do any good. It will be dark before I reach the village, and there's no moon. Nobody could go out after night in that sea. Besides, she's putting in so fast, she'll be on the rocks in half an hour."