"Twelve, mebby two more," one of the others replied.
"And how many boats did you have?"
"Two more."
"Know which way they went?"
"No know. We went first boat."
"Start her up," the captain shouted to the mate and immediately the throb of the engine was resumed. "One of you men take these fellows to the galley and tell Wong to fill them up with soup and hot coffee," he added as he started up the stairs followed by the boys and Mr. Lakewood.
Fifteen minutes later, a second boat was sighted and five more men were taken on board. On being questioned, one of the men said that the other boat, carrying the captain, together with his wife and daughter and two men, had pushed off just after them, but they had almost at once lost sight of it and were unable to say which way they had gone.
"Well, all we can do is to cruise around till we pick them up," Captain Ole declared as he started up the stairway and gave the mate the order to go ahead.
The rain was now falling heavily, and so thick was the weather that even the powerful searchlight was unable to penetrate any great distance.
"Gee, but it's like looking for a needle in a haystack," Jack grumbled after they had made several turns.