“I’d like a drink myself,” said Fred. “But we haven’t got any water, so what’s the use of thinking about it?”
“It’s a pity we didn’t think to save a little of the water while it was rainin’, lad. Even a mouthful or two might mean a whole lot to us later on.”
As the sun came up over the eastern ocean, the boys gazed eagerly in all directions. Here and there they could see bits of wreckage—boxes, barrels, floating spars, and what looked to be the bow of a fair-sized schooner.
“Some vessel has certainly gone to pieces, and not very long ago, either,” remarked Jack. “But I don’t see anything that looks like a human being; do you, Fred?”
“I see something!” cried his cousin, excitedly. “Look over there, Jack! What is that?”
The young major looked in the direction indicated, and then drew a sharp breath.
“Why, it’s somebody on some wreckage!” he exclaimed. “And they are signaling to us!”
CHAPTER XV
FACING STARVATION
The fact that some of the other castaways had been sighted filled even Ira Small with intense interest.