Read this excerpt from "the open boat" by stephen crane":

"oh, well," said the captain, soothing his children, "we'll get ashore
all right."

but there was that in his tone which made them think, so the oiler
quoth: "yes! if this wind holds! "

the cook was bailing: "yes! if we don't catch hell in the surf.

what is the meaning of the phrase “catch hell”?

a. to be told off or scolded
b. to be subjected to pain
c. to suffer harsh consequences
d. to deteriorate very quickly