“How’ll Captain Joe make the pass now?” he yelled to the other boys. “The fire’s out.” Jerry was by his side baling the boat with his hat.
“Yo’ all don’ know Captain Joe, Ah reckon,” he answered. “He jes’ knows de place; he ain’t gwine to have to see it.”
In about a quarter of an hour, Mac burst out in a new exclamation.
“He’s fetched her,” the boy shouted. “Captain Joe’s headin’ in.”
“Headin’ in!” exclaimed Bob. “Into what?”
“Into de pass,” volunteered Jerry. “He shorely is.”
“I can’t see anything,” added Bob, straining his eyes shoreward.
“He ain’t seein’”, repeated Jerry enthusiastically. “But don’ you be afeared. Whar de steamer’s pintin’ now, dat’s de pass.”
For the first time, the movement of the black hulk behind the Escambia became apparent. Captain Joe, even with his imperceptible headway, had at last permitted the steamer to pay off before the wind, and it was now drifting straight shoreward—bow on. Mac’s orders came at once. All four boys fell to the oars, the steering sweep brought the straining life boat about on to the new course and then the Escambia pointed ahead at last fairly before the gale.
If there were any doubt as to the accuracy of old Romano’s instinct it was soon settled. The monotonous sound of the wash of the water on the beach rose louder but the sucking roar of the breakers was now no longer in front. The sounds that had chilled the amateur life savers all evening came from the right and left.