Hour after hour the men toiled, following the moon, that appeared to recede from them as they advanced. They had passed safely the debris of the wrecked steamer, and were again talking loudly and rather cheerfully, when Tim O'Rooney interrupted them:
"Yonder is something flowting in the darkness."
"It is a boat full of people," said Mr. Yard. "I have noticed it for the last few minutes."
All turned their eyes toward the spot indicated, and agreed that Mr. Yard was correct in his supposition.
"I will hail it," he quietly added, and then called out: "Boat ahoy!"
"What do you want?" came back in a gruff voice.
"Can you take four drowning passengers on board?"
"Not much," was the unfeeling answer, "Paddle away and you'll reach California one of these days."
"How far are we from it?"
"Double the distance, divide by two, and you'll have it."