After an hour the Chief Officer returned.

He could make nothing of the sailor, who had fallen silly from exhaustion or the blow on his head; but he divided his men into three parties, and they began to hunt more systematically.

Taffy was told off to help the westernmost gang and search the rocks below the light-house.

Once or twice he and his comrades paused in their work, hearing, as they thought, a cry for help.

But when they listened, it was only one of the other parties hailing.
The gale began to abate soon after midnight, and before dawn had blown itself out.