The room was suddenly lightened by a single vivid flash.
"A mortar!" Lessingham exclaimed.

"And that was a rocket, unless I'm mistaken." "The signal for the lifeboat!" Philippa announced.

"I wonder if we can see anything." She hastened towards the window, but paused at the abrupt opening of the door.

Nora burst in, followed more sedately by Helen.
"Mummy, there's a wreck!" the former cried in excitement.

"I heard something an hour ago, and I got up, and I've been sitting by the window, watching.