For, far away on that gleaming path of gold, I could plainly see a couple of black specks. Half-stifled with emotion, I caught at Mr Brymer’s arm, and pointed as I looked in his face, and tried to speak, but no words would come.
I must have pointed widely, for he turned quickly, looked in the direction indicated by my finger, and then clapped me on the shoulder.
“Why, Dale, my lad, what’s the matter?” he said. “Did you see a whale?”
At that moment Barney shouted from where he stood forward, unseen for the mist of dimly illuminated steam which lay between us, though his voice was plainly heard, and sent a thrill through all who heard—
“Boat-ho! Two on ’em astarn.”
“Ay, ay!” roared Bob Hampton in a voice of thunder, “lying doo east. It’s Frenchy and his gang come back.”
For a few seconds there was a dead silence, and no one stirred. Then, as if electrified, I ran half-way down the ladder, and leaped the rest of the way, dashed through the saloon to Mr Brymer’s cabin, seized his glass, and ran back with it and up on to the poop-deck.
He gave me a quick look which seemed to say, “Good!”—snatched the glass, brought it to bear upon the two black specks, and then stood motionless, while all present waited breathless for the lowering of the glass again, and the mate’s first words.
For we hoped against hope. The boats might be two sent from some invisible ship to our aid.
All such thoughts were swept away as the mate lowered his glass and nearly threw it to me.