But to drag you two into it--" Hallam could go no further.

He was choking up with honest emotion.
"Don't bother about it, Hally," urged Dave.

"It's all in the day's work for a sailor.

We'll just take it as it comes, old fellow." To not one of the trio did it occur to let go of the life buoys and sink as a means of ending misery.

In the first place, human instinct holds to hope.