“No, no. Ahoy! ahoy! Look, lad; we’re almost upon them.”
The wild call of the boatswain aroused the remaining sleeping occupants of the raft.
Only a short distance ahead of them a ship’s light could be seen, and the outlines of the ship itself made out.
Evidently Jack had been looking in the wrong direction for it. He redoubled his cries and piled the wood on the fire, which, fanned by the breeze, threatened to set the entire raft in flames.
“Ahoy!”
The responsive call came near at hand. A yawl, manned by several sailors, drove directly into the raft.
Their signal had been heard! They were rescued!
Ten minutes later, as the boys and sailors clambered upon the deck of a stately ship to which the yawl had conveyed them, they could see the burning raft, a diminishing speck of light, in the far distance.