They tumbled out without waiting to don any more clothes than they had turned in with. The cause of the boy's sudden summons was at once plain. Not half a mile from them were the red and green lights of an approaching steamer, and judging from the height they were out above the water, the vessel was a big one.
"She's headed right for us," shouted Harry.
"That's right, we can see both lights," exclaimed Frank.
"Put your wheel over," yelled Ben.
"I can't, something's the matter with it," rejoined Harry, as the Bolo rose on the crest of another big wave and they saw the steamer driving toward them right in their path.
"Tiller rope's broken," pronounced Frank after a brief examination.
"No time to fix it up now," announced Ben, "cut out the engine. We must trust to the wind to drift us off the steamer's course."
Bluewater Bill dived into the cabin for the lantern, but the furious wind snuffed out the light in a second.
And all the time the big steamer was driving closer and closer—straight for the helpless motor-boat.
"The signal gun," suddenly shouted Frank. This was a small saluting cannon fixed to the after end of the cabin roof.