For an hour the conflagration raged with apparently unabated violence, the wreck drifting quite rapidly; but the fire soon tired of its work, large pieces of burning timber could be seen floating in the water, and finally the charred hull made a plunge downward into the sea, and our friends were left alone upon their frail support.
"Now, it's time to decide what we are going to do," said Howard.
"You are right, and what shall it be? Shall we drift about here until morning, when some vessel will pick us up? I have no doubt this fire has drawn a half-dozen toward it."
"No; let's make for shore."
"That is the best plan," said Tim.
"But it is a good way off," remarked Howard; "and I have little hope of reaching it."
"Never mind; it, will keep us busy, and that will make the time pass faster than if we do nothing but float."
"We may need our strength; but it is the best plan."
"But do we know the direction?"
"I can tell you that," said Elwood; "for the moon was directly over the shore; so all we've got to do is to aim for the moon."