“It is well he doesn’t know, since he could do you no good,” rejoined Titcomb.

“Yes; it would only make the dear old man unhappy. I don’t want him to know it till he also knows that I am safe.”

“How long is it since we were left here?” asked Luke Clark. “Have you kept the record?”

“Yes, this is the seventeenth day.”

“And we are still alive! Well that’s a comfort, any way.”

Abner Titcomb had been using his glass.

“Boys!” he said, suddenly, in a tone of excitement, “I see a sail!”

“Where?” exclaimed Guy and Luke Clark together.

Titcomb pointed in a direction east by south.

“Look again! Notice if it seems to be approaching the island.”