The course of the sloop was changed and they moved slowly for the marshland, beating against the wind. Darry was at the bow watching eagerly for any sign of life which might appear.
“I see something in the water, dead ahead,” he sang out presently and all rushed forward to investigate. At first they felt sure it must be Sam’s body but as they drew closer found it was nothing but a mass of seaweed with some rubbish on top.
“Too bad!” came from Hockley. “I thought the search was ended.”
“I’m glad we didn’t find him drowned,” answered Frank.
They were interrupted by a cry from the professor. “I see a light ahead, low down as if on the water’s edge. It looks like a signal.”
“It must be a signal,” said the native boatman. “No house dare—no people live dare. All wet ground and mud, señor.”
As they drew closer to the fire the professor let out a long and loud cry:
“Winthrop! Sam Winthrop! Is that you?”
No answer came back and once again the boys felt a keen disappointment. But the course of the sloop was not changed and soon they were so close to the fire that they could see around it quite plainly.
“Somebody is there,” ejaculated Mark.