After breakfast they again started circling about, trying to locate the small boat. Every minute was precious now, for they all realized that Mr. Sheldon and his daughter might be suffering greatly from lack of food and water. They had been in the open boat for some time.
Noon came, and still no success.
“It doesn’t look very hopeful,” said Bob, with a sigh he could not hide.
“Oh, we’re not going to give up yet,” declared Jerry with a confidence he did not altogether feel. “We’ve got plenty of time yet to find them.”
The afternoon was wearing away. It looked as though the motor boys would have to spend another night floating above the sea.
Jerry, who was alone in the pilot house, called to Ned:
“I say, old fellow, come here a minute. I see something, but I’ve been staring at it so long that my eyes are swimming. Take a look and see what you make of it.”
Ned, with repressed excitement, looked to where his chum pointed. Then he took an observation through a powerful glass.
“It’s a small boat, all right,” he spoke finally, in a low voice, “and it’s drifting about. But whether it’s the one we are looking for is another question.”
“We’ll soon see,” returned Jerry, almost in a whisper. Then he speeded up the motor and headed the Comet for that small speck on the great ocean.