“There’s trouble o’ some kind out yonder,” the assistant declared and handed Chester a pair of night-glasses. “Thank fortune, we don’t have to sit still and see them poor fellows drift past us while we’re suckin’ our thumbs!”
“Do you think——”
“I’m tryin’ to figger out how we’re going to lend a hand if that there sponger strikes a sunken ledge or a coral reef, as I reckon she will.”
“You couldn’t even stand on the rocks while the sea is running as it is now!” said Chester.
“I ain’t so certain ’bout that, though I’ll admit that a man couldn’t keep his footin’ there and ’tend to much else. ’Sides, the tide’s risin’ now. It’s within an hour o’ high water.”
When Chester descended the stairs in some anxiety and reëntered the keeper’s room, Bowling asked sharply: “What’s Bill doing—besides his duty? Depend on him for that!”
“Trying to decide how we can help those in the sponger, if she strikes a ledge, sir.”
“Oh, so that’s what’s troubling him! Let’s hope his fears won’t be justified! Bill Wayne may be mulish and irritable at times, but whenever any danger or hardship comes up, his heart swells out till it’s too big for his body.”
CHAPTER XIII.
SAVED FROM THE STORM.
In spite of Keeper Bowling’s light words, inwardly he shared his assistant’s anxiety and keen sense of responsibility. His calm, easy manner was assumed chiefly that his other men and his guests might not dread the worst, before the belated sponger had made further progress toward the haven.