"Very well! And now what do you think of the situation? Are we in danger, or likely to be?"
"I think not. The ship lies almost upright, and on clear, smooth sand. It may lie thus for a very long time, if nothing intervenes."
"The Captain is right in keeping us on board, then?"
"Yes, I think so—the more so as the wind, for the first time in three days, appears about to shift to the east, and, if it does, we shall probably be afloat again in a few hours. Meanwhile——"
"Meanwhile?"
"To err is human, General. If the wind—we now have south-southeast—it is not probable, but yet possible—should again shift to the west and become stronger, perhaps very strong, a serious situation might, of course, confront us."
"Then we should take advantage of the Captain's permission to leave the ship?"
"As the passage is easy and entirely safe, I can at least say nothing against it. But, in that case, it ought to be done while it is still sufficiently light—best of all, at once."
"And you? You would remain, as a matter of course?"
"As a matter of course, General."