For a long minute the six boys huddled there in the storm and disconsolately gazed at the boat.

It was Han who voiced the thought of most of them.
"She won't stay together long, I guess," he said sorrowfully.

"Those waves will batter her to pieces." "She'll stand a lot of battering," answered Steve hopefully.

"It's hitting her on the beam and she hasn't swung much since I left her.

The tide's still coming in and--" He stopped.