Two or three fishermen, their backs against a rock, the better to resist the wind, were shouting at the top of their voices.
Jack Ryan and his companions ran up to them.

The shouts were, however, not for the inhabitants of the farm, but to warn men who, without being aware of it, were going to destruction.

A dark, confused mass appeared some way out at sea.

It was a vessel whose position could be seen by her lights, for she carried a white one on her foremast, a green on the starboard side, and a red on the outside.

She was evidently running straight on the rocks.
"A ship in distress ?" said Ryan.
"Ay," answered one of the fishermen, "and now they want to tack, but it's too late!" "Do they want to run ashore ?" said another.
"It seems so," responded one of the fishermen, "unless he has been misled by some--" The man was interrupted by a yell from Jack.