He drew aside the blind, staring at the blackness that seemed to press
against the pane. A moment later, with a sharp exclamation, he ripped
back the blind and flung the window wide open. An icy spout of rain and
snow whirled into the room. Richmond turned round to expostulate, but
was met by a face of such wild excitement that his protest remained
unuttered.

"I saw a rocket!" Croft declared.

"Oh, rats!" murmured Fisher.

"It isn't rats!" he said indignantly. "It's a ship down among those
infernal rocks. I'm off to see what's doing."

"Hi! Wait a minute!" exclaimed his host, starting up. "You are perfectly
certain, are you, Croft? No humbug? I heard no report."

"Who could hear anything in a gale like this?" returned Croft
impatiently. "Yes, of course, I am certain. Are you coming?"

"I must send a man on horseback to the life-boat station," said Bertie,
starting towards the door. "It's two miles round the headland. They may
not know there is anything up."

He was out of the room with the words. The rest of the men in the
smoking-room followed. Fisher remained to shut the window. He stood a
couple of seconds before it, facing the hurricane. The night was like
pitch. The angry roar of the sea half-a-mile away surged up on the
tearing gale like the voice of a devouring monster. He turned away into
the cosy room and followed the others.