"It seems heartless, needless," protested Dan.
"No," broke in Darrin. "They've done their best. They're convinced that we're lost. And I should think they would be, after all the time they've searched for us—half a day, at least."
Dan said nothing, but tugged until he succeeded in bringing his watch up to the light.
"The blamed thing is water-logged," he uttered disgustedly.
"Why?"
"The hands point to less than half past nine!"
Darrin managed to get at his own watch.
"My timepiece doesn't call for half past nine, either," he announced.
"Can it be possible—"
"Yes; the time has only seemed longer, I reckon," observed Dalzell.