“Now,” spoke up Jack, presently, “all we’ve got to do is to let this wind blow us along. We’ll just keep the boat straightened into the seas and take it easy. We can’t do a thing to help matters.”
“Right you are, Scout!” agreed Jimmie. “I think it’s getting gray over there,” the lad continued, pointing toward the east. “Morning will be along shortly and we can see what time it is.”
“Maybe we’ll meet some ship that will pick us up,” ventured Harry, hopefully. “There are plenty of vessels in these parts.”
“I see a smoke astern of us now, I think!” declared Frank. “It seems to be from a vessel low in the water.”
“Let me take a look,” cried Ned, standing and balancing himself by clinging to Jimmie’s shoulder. “Yes, I can see it, too! It seems to be overhauling us quite rapidly,” he added. “Maybe they’ll help us!”
Ceasing their efforts to propel the boat the boys handled the oars only enough to keep their tiny craft properly riding the seas.
“It looks to me like a tug!” stated Jimmie, presently.
“A tug wouldn’t come smashing along at that rate!” objected Ned.
“Well, then, what can it be?” queried the other. “It is too low in the water for a battleship and no freight steamer ever made such good time as they are clipping off! They’re coming up fast!”