"I have nothing more to say," I replied, seating myself on the rail of the steamer.
"I don't think there is much more to be said. Here we are, hard aground; and anybody that has a mind to come after us can take us."
I made no reply. Vallington went to the gangway and looked over into the shallow water. Then he walked over to the other side, and I had no doubt our situation looked hopeless to him. After he had walked about a while, his anger abated; and perhaps he was conscious that he had been too fast in expressing himself.
"What's to be done? That's the next question," said he.
"I suppose nothing can be done," replied Tom Rush, who was more disappointed than any other fellow on board. "They say the Champion will be down after us this afternoon. Perhaps she will drag us off, and then our tyrants will treat us as they think proper."
"You needn't disturb yourselves about the Champion," I interposed. "She can't come within half a mile of us at least."
"Is that so?"
"It doesn't make much difference whether she can or not. We must stay here till some one helps us out of the scrape," added Vallington. "It was stupid to come in here."
"I don't think so," said Bob Hale, decidedly.