And as for his companion, what chance was there of finding him on such a dark night as this?
Why, by the time we had hove round and got back again we might not have hit it within a quarter of a mile.

Besides, if he had been alive he would have shouted." Ralph saw, when he understood what the captain said, that there was truth in his words, and that the chances of discovering Joe would indeed have been slight even had the vessel headed round.
"May I ask," he said, "what ship this is, and what you are going to do with me ?" "The ship is La Belle Marie of Dunkirk; as to what we are going to do with you it is not so easy to say.

Of course you can jump overboard again if you like, but if not you can stay on board until we have an opportunity of putting you ashore somewhere.

How did you come to be on board a fishing smack?
For I suppose it was a smack that we run down." "I live at Dover," Ralph replied, "and had only come out for a night's fishing." "Well, you are out of luck," the captain said.

"That will do, Jacques.
Take him forward and sling a hammock for him.