At last, however, there was a sputter, and the motor started. The girls pushed the boat into the water and climbed into it.
It would have been great sport riding the waves, had it not been for the grave danger attached. This was no sporting contest, with a life-guard in readiness to rescue them if anything went wrong! It was a race between life and death.
The wind had died down, however, and the sea was gradually growing calmer. Up and down the little boat bobbed, now in the trough of a wave, seemingly under a mountain of water—now rising again to a height that made the girls think of a scenic-railway at a pleasure park. Dot screamed with excitement, but Linda's lips were set in a firm line of determination, her attention riveted on the engine.
By some miracle, it seemed to the girls, the little boat forged triumphantly ahead, with its motor running smoothly. A feeling of confidence was gradually taking the place of fear, and Dot strained her eyes for the island that was their goal. Half an hour later she spotted it, and almost upset the boat in her joy.
"There it is, Linda!" she cried, excitedly. "Oh, Linda, we're saved! We're——" She stopped suddenly, hardly able to believe her eyes. The autogiro was gone!
"What's the matter, Dot?" asked Linda, unable to understand the abrupt end of her chum's rejoicing. "Anything wrong!"
"Yes.... The Ladybug's gone!"
"What? Oh, it can't be!" Linda's voice was hoarse with terror. "Look again, Dot—you have the glasses."
Dot squinted her eyes, but was rewarded by no trace of the plane.