The boys swung their arms and slapped themselves. The waves raced along and the raft raced along too—but not in the right direction, Tom was sure!
And then, towards afternoon, the wind dropped again, and the sun shone out! What a relief that was! The boys sunned themselves gladly, and were soon warm. Andy rigged the sail again. "We'll get the wind we want this evening," he said. "We'll be ready for it."
Sure enough, as the sun slid down the western sky, the wind got up again—and this time it was Wowing from the right quarter! Andy was delighted.
The sail flapped and the little raft raced along nobly. "I think the wind's set in properly now," said Andy, pleased. "If only it holds for another couple of days we may be home—or, at any rate, see a ship we can hail."
The wind became stiffer as the evening drew on. The sun was just about to slip over the sky-line when Andy sat up straight and looked alarmed.
"Can you hear a noise?" he asked Tom.
"Plenty," said Tom. "The wind and the waves and the sail!"
"No—not that sort of noise," said Andy. "A noise like—a seaplane.»
Tom's heart almost stopped beating. Surely their escape hadn't been discovered after all! He sat and listened.
"Yes—there's a seaplane about somewhere," said Andy. "Blow! If it's really hunting for us it will be sure to find us. Just as we've got away so nicely, too—and the wind helping Us again, and all!"