Directly ahead of them a brilliant rocket had pierced the gloom of the tempestuous night and burst in a shower of rubicund radiance high in air.
“Hold the wheel, Nate, and head direct for her. I’m going to get busy with the wireless!” cried Nat, and dived below.
Presently across the tossing waves a message went flashing to the Lightship.
“This is the Nomad. We have seen your rocket. Will be alongside in a short time.”
“Bully for you,” came back the blunt answer from old Captain Braithwaite, “we need you dern bad.”
“How did you get adrift?” flashed Nat.
“A schooner bumped into us and the force of the collision broke us loose.”
“What became of the schooner?”
“We rescued the crew but the craft is a wreck on the Pancake Shoals,” was the rejoinder.
Nat cut off the instruments and visited Joe with the news. Having imparted his information to the young engineer, after bidding him pay strict attention to signals from the bridge, he went on deck again. The sea was still running high, but the wind appeared to be less boisterous. Ahead of them the tossing lights of the Lightship could now be seen. He took the wheel from Nate, tackling it with renewed vigor. The thought that their wireless was to be the means of saving human lives inspired him with a sort of desperate courage. Nat felt at that moment that he could have dared anything and won out.