At that moment a steam whistle sounded close at hand, and presently they beheld the steam tug, with the captain on the forward deck, gazing anxiously ahead.
"There she is!" cried the man Ralph had picked up.
"We'll call to the captain, and let him know where his hay barge is," replied Ralph.
He accordingly hailed those on the steam tug. Soon the craft was close beside him.
"Your barge is off in that direction," said Ralph, pointing with his hand.
"And I am here, captain, and going to stay here," put in Ralph's passenger. "No more hay barges for me."
"Don't you want to come on the tug?"
"No."
"All right then, suit yourself."
And the next moment the steam tug shot out of sight, in the direction in which the hay barge was drifting.