The off-shore wind continued for some hours.

There was not the smallest doubt that the boat had been driven out to sea, unless--a still more awful possibility--she had been swamped and sunk long ago.

As darkness fell, the gale at length abated, and Quiller the younger approached Seton.
"Tell you what, sir," he said.

"There's a cruiser been up and down a matter of ten miles out.

Me and my mates will put out at daybreak and see if we can get within hail of her.