"
"I think so, too, Watkins, but we will see what it is like before
it gets dark; if we can pick up a pilot all the better; if not,
we will lie to till morning, if the weather keeps thick; but if it
clears so that we can make out all the lights we ought to be able
to get into the bay anyhow."
An hour later the rain ceased and the sky appeared somewhat clearer.
Suddenly Watkins exclaimed, "There is a wreck, sir! There, three
miles away to leeward. She is on the Paternosters."
"Good Heavens! she is a steamer," Tom exclaimed, as he caught sight
of her the next time the Seabird lifted on a wave. "Can she be the
Southampton boat, do you think?"
"Like enough, sir, she may have had it thicker than we had, and
may not have calculated enough for the current."
"Up helm, Jack, and bear away towards her. Shall we shake out a
reef, Watkins?"
"I wouldn't, sir; she has got as much as she can carry on her
now. We must mind what we are doing, sir; the currents run like
a millstream, and if we get that reef under our lee, and the wind
and current both setting us on to it, it will be all up with us in
no time."
"Yes, I know that, Watkins. Jack, take the helm a minute while we
run down and look at the chart.
"Our only chance, Watkins, is to work up behind the reef, and try
and get so that they can either fasten a line to a buoy and let it
float down to us, or get into a boat, if they have one left, and
drift to us.
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