"
While we spoke we came to the bank of the canal. This we had to cross, in
order to reach that part of the shore opposite which the wreck lay. To my
surprise the canal itself was in a storm, heaving and tossing and dashing
over its banks.
"Percivale," I exclaimed, "the gates are gone; the sea has torn them away."
"Yes, I suppose so. Would God I could get half-a-dozen men to help me. I
have been doing what I could; but I have no influence amongst them."
"What do you mean?" I asked. "What could you do if you had a thousand men
at your command?"
He made me no answer for a few moments, during which we were hurrying on
for the bridge over the canal. Then he said:
"They regard me only as a meddling stranger, I suppose; for I have been
able to get no useful answer. They are all excited; but nobody is doing
anything."
"They must know about it a great deal better than we," I returned; "and we
must take care not to do them the injustice of supposing they are not ready
to do all that can be done.
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