"What's the name on the stern?" asked Joe, straining his eyes as the waves now and then left the end of the vessel.
No one could tell, but it was plain to all that the word was a long one.
"It can't be the Una, then!" cried Joe with a sigh of relief.
"No--thank God for that; but these poor fellows are having a hard time," said Mr. Bernard.
"Bad enough!" exclaimed the light-keeper, who had joined the party on the rocks. "They think they can save the vessel; but unless she is off before noon she's gone! She will break up fast in this sea."
"Is there no way for us to help them?" asked Mr. Andrews.
"No; it would be nonsense to try to get to them with my boat. The landing here is bad at the best; and I never think of going out except in fair weather."
"What kind of boats have you?"
"Nothing but a common sail-boat and a couple of skiffs, and they wouldn't stand a sign of a chance in this sea."
"What will the men do if the vessel goes down?"