"What is it?"
"Why, to find out where we are. It's no use asking those wooden Indians; they wouldn't say if they did know, and couldn't if they didn't."
"Well, but what's your plan?" asked Tom impatiently.
"Just this. You remember how the captain on the Northerner found out when he was dangerously near to the coast by blowing the whistle and waiting for the echo?"
Tom nodded.
"Well, why can't we do the same by hollering at the top of our voices?"
"Good boy! I see your idea. If we're near land, we ought to catch the echo of our voices."
"That's the scheme exactly."
The boat was tossing too violently to stand up in it, but the boys placed their hands to their mouths, funnel-wise, and set up as loud an uproar as they could.
Sure enough, back out of the fog faint and obscure, but still audible, came an unmistakable reply.