“It’d have to be a pretty good voice that could carry that far,” spoke Joe weakly. “Still, she sees us. She’s about three miles off. Wave everything you’ve got!”
At once Tom caught up a piece of canvas. Every one, save Jackie, did the same, and soon there was a wildly-waving mass of rags to be observed on board the lifeboat.
“If she only sees us!” gasped Tom. “If she only does!”
Hope awoke anew, and Tom found himself fired with an ambition to do anything that would put him in a position to rescue his father and mother.
“Is—is she turning? Can she see us?” asked Mr. Skeel anxiously, pausing in his exertions.
“It’s too soon to tell—yet,” answered Joe. “Keep on waving.”
They had almost forgotten the professor’s mean and sneaking ways now, in the excitement over a possible rescue. Anxiously they watched the small speck that meant a vessel. Oh how anxiously! Would some one on board see them? Would she put about?
“Can’t you head for her any more directly?” asked Mr. Skeel after a bit. “It seems to me that you’re not heading any where near her.”
“I’m doing the best I can,” declared Abe, who was at the helm. “I can’t make the wind do what I want it to. It all depends on the other ship.”