Presently even above the noise of the gale a tremendous crash was heard, and they fancied that they heard a wild shout come faintly up.
"Can nothing be done ?" Jack shouted to his friend.
"Nothing, sir," an old sailor said close by.

"They are all doomed.
There were over thirty ships there this morning, for I counted them, and I doubt if one will live out the night." By this time the sailors, unable to lie inactive, had joined the officers, and all were scattered in groups along the cliff.
"Is there no possible way of getting down near the water ?" Jack said.
"I don't think so, sir; but if it were daylight we might make a shift to try." "Let us try, anyhow," Jack said.
"Oh, there is another!" as another crash was heard above the gale.
"Anything is better than standing here.

I don't think the cliff goes quite sheer down everywhere.

Let us try, Dick; it would be a relief to be doing something." "All right, Jack.

Let you and I stick together.