It would have been better, they said, to have started off as soon as they found out the fire, and have had time to put something to eat and drink on the raft.

It was all wasted time to try to save the ship.

It did no good, after all.

The captain said nothing to this.

He knew that he had done his duty in trying to put out the fire, and he just kept his mouth shut, and looked out for a sail.