An accident.

Tell him it was an accident, will you ?" I could not answer him, and I turned to Bob Chowne, who was standing with his fingers now thrust into his ears.
"Bob!" I cried.

"Bob, let's try again!" He sprang to poor Bigley's other hand, and we dragged and tugged with slow steady strain and sharp snatch, but without any effect; and every now and then, as we pulled, the waves came right up, and drove us against the rock.
"It's of no use, boys," said Bigley at last.

"I'm fast." "Help!" yelled Bob Chowne with all his might; but in that great solitude his voice had no more effect than the wail of a sea-bird.

There was not a soul in sight either on cliff path or the shore.