"Ay," muttered the skipper--I was close at his elbow, having followed him that I might be at hand if required--"ay, she is ashore, fast enough, and she will never come off again, for an hour of such pounding as she is now getting will make an end of her.  We shall be very lucky indeed if we do not follow.  Hillo!  Mr Delamere, is that you?  Just find Mr Howard, and say I shall be obliged if he can come to me on the quarter-deck."