I told you, the
sea plays no favorites."

Before the young man could answer, she had turned from him to meet the
men who were climbing from the incoming vessel.

"Hello, boys. Tough luck. But we can't help it. Tell me what happened.
Make it short. I've got a lot to do."

The fishermen grouped themselves about her as the quivering figure of a
little Mexican lunged through the circle and began to speak:

"_Dios, Senorita_, it was very bad," he quavered. "We were lying close
to shore. The fog was everywhere. We could not see. And the anchor, it
would not hold. I was at the chain as you say I must when I hear a boat
coming. _Jesus de mi alma_, but she is coming fast. I can not leave as
we are drifting and I say to Pedro that he make a noise with the
whistle. But he does not get a chance. As he jumped for the engine-house
a big boat she come right out of the fog and before we can move, she
smash us all to hell. I fall into the water with Pedro and loose the
dory. For a time we drift. Then we are picked up by _Senor_ Jones."

"Did the _Petrel_ sink right away?" Dickie interrupted.

Another man crowded forward and answered the question.

"She didn't sink at all, miss. She wasn't far from the shore and she
drifted in with the tide that was settin' in strong. Then she piled up
on the rocks. She's layin' there now, high and dry on the beach."

"Didn't the boat that smashed them, lay to?" volleyed the girl.

Again the Mexican began to speak excitedly: "_Sangre de Christo_, no,"
he chattered, "The boat, she was very big, _Senorita_, and she did not
stop."

"Nonsense, Manuel. You were crazy with fright. Don't talk like a fool.
Go home and go to bed. When you've had a good sleep, I'll talk with you
again."

Stung into action by Jones's statement that the hull of the _Petrel_ was
still on the beach, she turned suddenly to the wharf.

"Tom Howard," she called sharply. When a voice answered, she ordered:
"Fill up the _Pelican_ with oil and stock her with grub. You can get it
from Swanson. Throw in a couple of deep-sea hooks and a lot of good
hauser. Mind it's new. Be ready to pull out in an hour." She turned
again to the men before her. "Jones, I want you to get the _Curlew_
ready. We may need two boats to pull her off. You know where they went
ashore. Take Johnson and Rasmussen with you. We've got to move lively. A
boat won't hang together long out there."

"Rasmussen's sick. How about Pete Carlin? He was with me coming