"Halloa!" shouted Caudel in response.
"What is wrong with you?"
"Wessel's making water fast, and ye can see," shrieked Caudel, pointing at our wrecked and naked masts, "what our state is. The owner and a lady's aboard, and want to leave the yacht. Will you stand by till you can receive 'em, sir?"
The man with the speaking trumpet lifted his hand in token of having heard, which somewhat astonished me, for though Caudel's lungs were very powerful and piercing, we were not only to leeward of the ship, but the wind, pouring dead on to us from her, was full of whistlings and yells, and the clamour of colliding and breaking seas.
The man with the speaking trumpet appeared to consult with another figure that had drawn to his side. He then took a long look round at the weather, and afterwards put the tube again to his mouth.
"Yacht ahoy!"
"Halloa!"
"We will stand by you; but we cannot launch a boat yet. Does the water gain rapidly upon you?"
"We can keep her afloat for some hours, sir."
The man again elevated his hand, and crossed to the weather side of his ship to signify, I presume, that there was nothing more to be said.