"She has been working already on the shingle, and her frame has been a good deal knocked about since last night." The coastguardsman gave a shrug to his shoulders.
"I expect a tide or two'll settle her hash, sir," he observed, after thus relieving his pent-up feelings.

"With the water making a clean sweep through her fore and aft every time it rises, the poor thing can't last long, sir!" "Aye," said the Captain.

"She's bound to go to pieces, now, fast enough." "So I've reported to the commander, sir, this very morning," continued Hellyer; "and, he's sent down word as I'm to keep men stationed along the shore so as to pick up any wreckage that mebbe washed out on her." "Quite right," was the Captain's comment on this.

"There are a lot of light-fingered gentry about here, whom it is just as well to be on guard against.

When will it be flood-tide to-night, Hellyer, eh ?" "Nigh upon nine o'clock, sir," answered he.