Luckily the old fishing smack had no water in the hold, and so, unsafe as it looked, it evidently did not leak.
“Which is one comfort, surely,” Barbara remarked.
The boat had drifted beyond the shelter of the out-jutting promintory, and an increasing land breeze was blowing them steadily out to sea.
The gentle, even roll of the waves rocked the boat and poor little Sally was the first to become pale and ill. This added to their anxiety. Virginia insisted that the youngest girl lie down upon the deck. With her own sweater, she made a rolled pillow while Megsy offered her sweater coat for a covering.
For a long hour the fishing smack slowly drifted. Suddenly Betsy gave a cry of joy. “Lookee! Look yonder! Surely that is a steamer. Let’s all stand up on the seats and wave something. Maybe they will see us through their glasses and come to our rescue.”
This they did, but the steamer, plying its way, many miles out at sea, did not veer from its course and soon disappeared in the fog that was slowly creeping shoreward.
“Virg, I don’t believe I can keep calm much longer,” Barbara said, turning toward the oldest girl, a pretty face that quivered. “I—I feel so terribly frightened deep inside.”
“I know, dear, but we must keep up our spirits. It won’t help in the least for us to cry, or get panicky. We want to be able to think clearly if the time comes to act.” Virginia held the hand of Babs in a tight, comforting clasp. “My theory is that when the tide turns we will drift back to the shore again. We must help each other by trying to be brave. When something has really happened, it will be time enough to give up hope.”
“Virg, you’re a wonder!” Eleanor said admiringly. “I, for one, shall not give up hope until you do.”
A grateful glance was the only reply the speaker received, and she was satisfied. But, during the hour that followed, it was very hard for Virginia to keep the younger girls brave and hopeful, for a dense wet fog settled about them, and the setting sun, after glaring red like a ball of fire in the mist, sank, leaving the unwilling voyagers hungry, cold and altogether miserable.