"Maybe they've been swamped," Bob suggested.
"Pray God they haven't," Mr. Lakewood said fervently, as he placed a hand on Bob's arm. "There are two women in that boat, you know," he added.
But an hour passed, and no sight of the missing boat had rewarded their search.
"I'm afraid it's no use," Captain Ole said mournfully.
"But we won't give up," Mr. Lakewood declared, a note of fierce determination sounding in his voice.
"Of course not," Captain Ole assured him. "I didn't mean that, but it's been so long that I'm afraid we may be miles away from them."
"But we aren't," Bob shouted. "There they are, Just ahead of us."
Even as he spoke, the others caught sight of the boat wallowing in heavy sea and the captain gave a quick order to the mate to swing her over a point to avoid running her down. But before the course of the vessel could be changed Bob saw one of the men in the boat rise to his feet and at almost the same instant a heavy wave hit her and over she went.
"Quick!" he shouted as he started down the stairs closely followed by Jack.
By the time the boys had reached the after deck, two of the sailors had pulled in one of the boats which had been trailing behind and, in less time than it takes to tell it, the four were in it and were pulling toward the upturned boat now some hundred feet astern. Three men were clinging to the boat and one of them had an arm about a woman, but of the other there was nothing to be seen.