"Let me take the glasses!" cried the commander.
He fairly snatched them from the boy. With his trained vision he looked long where Bob pointed. Then he cried:
"Thank God! There's a boat coming toward us. I think we're saved!
There are natives in it, but they don't seem to have any weapons!
I believe they're from the big island. Row, men, row as hard as
you can and we'll meet them the sooner!"
Tim and Ned caught up the oars and sent the gig over the calm water at a fast rate of speed.
CHAPTER XXV
HOMEWARD BOUND——CONCLUSION
Before an hour had passed the oncoming boat was in plain sight. Then the castaways could see it contained four brown-skinned natives. But, though they were savages, they were not warlike. In fact, they waved their hands in welcome, and called encouragingly to those in the gig.
"I hope they have some water aboard," said Mr. Tarbill. "I'd give anything for some right off the ice."
"I'd be glad of some out of a tea-kettle," said the captain, for the last in the cask had been dealt out some time before.
A little later the commander was exchanging a few words with the natives, as he found he could speak a little of their language.