After all, perhaps, it was not strange they were baffled.

They had reckoned on mechanical obstacles; Cartwright had reckoned on the intricacies of human nature.
"I expect you have got it, sir," Lister agreed.

"If her bilge was in the sand and the divers couldn't break into the engine-room--" He paused and laughed.

"A powerful centrifugal pump lifts some water, but you can't pump out the Atlantic!" "It looks as if the salvage company tried," said Cartwright, dryly.
"However--" He talked about the undertaking, giving Lister particulars he thought he ought to know, and when the young man went off, all important plans had been agreed upon.

Soon afterwards Cartwright went home and found Mrs.
Cartwright had gone to bed.