"I suppose because in that case they'd stand every chance of dropping into the sea," responded Frank, disconnecting the instrument and removing the head-piece. "I have sent word to them that we will try to rescue them, but I'm afraid it's a slim chance. I must tell Captain Hazzard at once."
Followed by the other two, Frank dashed up the few steps leading to the deck and unceremoniously burst into the captain's cabin where the latter was busy with a mass of charts and documents in company with Captain Barrington, the navigating commander.
"I beg your pardon," exclaimed Frank, as Captain Hazzard looked up, "but I have picked up a most important message by wireless,—two men, in an airship, are in deadly peril not far from us."
The two commanders instantly became interested.
"An airship!" cried Captain Hazzard.
"What's that!" exclaimed Captain Barrington. "Did they give you their position?" he added quickly.
"Yes," replied the boy, and rapidly repeated the latitude and longitude as he had noted it.
"That means they are to the west of us," exclaimed Captain Barrington as the boy concluded. He hastily picked up a speaking tube and hailed the wheel-house, giving instructions to change the course. He then emerged on deck followed by Captain Hazzard and the boys. The next hour was spent in anxiously scanning the surrounding sea.
Suddenly a man who had been sent into the crow's nest on the main mast gave a hail.
"I see something, sir," he cried, pointing to the southwest.