Tom said nothing. He sat in the bow, gloomily looking off across the waste of waters. He thought of many things.
It grew lighter. Another day of heat was coming—a day when there would be no water to relieve them. How many days more?
Higher crept the sun out of the waves. Tom rubbed his smarting eyes. He looked, and then he looked again. Then, scarcely believing what he saw, and fearing that it was but a vision of his disordered brain he shouted, over and over again:
“Sail ho! Sail ho!”
[CHAPTER XXII]
NEWS OF THE MISSING
Tom’s cry echoed over the water and startled those aboard the boat into sudden life. Gaspingly Joe and Abe sat up. Mr. Skeel was galvanized into sudden activity, awakening from a troubled dream. Little Jackie jumped up with a start.
“What—what is it, Tom?” cried Joe.
“Have we struck something?” exclaimed Abe.