In all haste the flag was fastened to a pole the boys had noticed some time before and then raised to the top of the cabin, where Randy and Jack waved it frantically at the on-coming ’plane. A few minutes later the flying machine was almost directly overhead. It was of fair size and contained two occupants.
“It’s a hydroplane!” exclaimed Fred. “See the pontoons under it?”
“I hope she lands,” murmured Andy.
“I don’t believe they can land on the ocean very well,” said Jack. “But they might land in that bay on the north shore.”
Eagerly the whole party watched the movements of the hydroplane. It seemed to be passing them by when it slowly turned in a wide circle to the eastward. Then it came along over the wreck once more.
“They’re dropping something!” cried Jack. “Here it comes!”
A white object about as big as a man’s head came dropping down from the hydroplane. It was evidently of light weight, for its descent was not rapid and the wind carried it from over the stern of the wreck to a point just beyond the bow. Then the hydroplane sailed on.
“I’ll bet it’s a message of some sort!” burst out Randy, and he and Fred scrambled over the side of the yacht and on to the rocks where the object lay. They found it was made of paper, tied lightly with a string, and to it was attached a bit of cardboard on which was written:
“Wreck and distress signals seen. Cannot land. Will notify U. S. Government without delay. Can you hold out forty-eight hours? If so, turn flag.
“Jackson.
“Borderwell.”