The three watched the approach of the boat eagerly. At last it came close enough to make out the occupants. There was not a woman aboard.
Cries of alarm issued from the lips of the three watchers. At the same moment there came another blast from the steamer’s siren.
“They are not in the boat!” exclaimed Dick. “What shall we do?”
Mr. Willing did not stop to reply. He hurried toward the bridge where Captain Anderson stood, ready to give the signal to up-anchor immediately the small boat was hoisted aboard.
Mr. Willing, closely followed by Colonel Ashton and Dick, rushed up to him.
“Captain!” exclaimed Mr. Willing. “My daughter and the colonel’s daughter and Mrs. Sebastian are still ashore. They are not in the last boat. What is to be done?”
The captain turned the matter over in his mind.
“We should be on our way now,” he replied at last. “I am afraid we shall have to go without them.”
Mr. Willing let out a roar of protest.
“No you don’t!” he cried. “You can’t go and leave my daughter behind like that.”