"What did you say?"
The men in the sleeping-bags, roused by Adler's shout, sat up and listened stolidly.
"Steam whalers?" said Bennett slowly. "Where? I guess not," he added, shaking his head.
Adler was swaying in his place with excitement.
"Three whalers," he repeated, "close in. They've put off—oh, my God! Listen to that."
The unmistakable sound of a steamer's whistle, raucous and prolonged, came to their ears from the direction of the coast. One of the men broke into a feeble cheer. The whole tent was rousing up. Again and again came the hoarse, insistent cry of the whistle.
"What orders, sir?" repeated Adler.
A clamour of voices filled the tent.
Ferriss came quickly up to Bennett, trying to make himself heard.
"Listen!" he cried with eager intentness, "what I told you—a while ago—about Lloyd—I thought—it's all a mistake, you don't understand—"