“Now for another try!” exclaimed Bob. “I’ll bet the Dartaway will prove equal to her name.”
Anxiously the boys went back to the engine. The fly wheel was spun around. This time there was an answering chug-chug, and, a moment later the motor was humming away in a fashion that thrilled the hearts of all.
“We’re off!” shouted Bob.
“Wait until I get my tub!” exclaimed Sam. “It’s all I’ve got left of my outfit.”
He scrambled aft, and hauled aboard the improvised drag. Then Jerry threw in the clutch and the Dartaway shot ahead.
“Which way shall I steer?” asked Jerry, who had gone to the wheel.
“Well, we’re as bad off as ever in that regard,” the sailor replied. “Wait a minute though. That steamer was cutting right across our bows. We ought to keep straight on I guess, to fetch up on the coast, as the vessel was going down along it. I think I know where we are.”
For a few minutes the boat went along, riding more evenly, now that it had better headway. Suddenly there flashed on it a glaring light. It was steady for a second, and then turned red. It flashed the ruby glow twice, and then disappeared.
“What was that?” cried Bob.