Digital heart book

I had a guess of it
before we came aboard, and now I know."
"It's not possible!" I cried. "What do you make of
Trent?"
"I don't make anything of Trent; I don't know whether
he's a liar or only an old wife; I simply tell you
what's the fact," said Nares. "And I'll tell you
something more," he added: "I've taken the ground
myself in deep-water vessels; I know what I'm saying;
and I say that, when she first struck and before she
bedded down, seven or eight hours' work would have got
this hooker off, and there's no man that ever went two
years to sea but must have known it."
I could only utter an exclamation.
Nares raised his finger warningly. "Don't let THEM
get hold of it," said he. "Think what you like, but
say nothing."
I glanced round; the dusk was melting into early night;
the twinkle of a lantern marked the schooner's position
in the distance; and our men, free from further labour,
stood grouped together in the waist, their faces
illuminated by their glowing pipes.
"Why didn't Trent get her off?" inquired the captain.


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