And they did. Light travels faster than sound. They saw the steam from the powerful whistle before they heard the hoarse blast; even as one sees the flash of a gun before hearing the report.
The steamer changed her course, and came on toward the motorboat.
"Suppose it's the English one, that wants to capture poor Jack," suggested Mr. Sneed.
"That doesn't make any difference," Russ said. "She'll save us, and then look for the schooner. We can take up Jack's case later."
It did not prove to be the English steamer. Instead it was a powerful fruiter, hailing from New York, and Russ and Mr. Sneed were soon aboard, the Ajax being hoisted to her deck. Then she resumed her course, but it was a different one.
For, on the earnest plea of Russ and Mr. Sneed, the steamer's captain consented to turn back and search for the Mary Ellen.
"I don't know as I'll find her," he said, "but we can't let all those poor souls perish."
So the search began. It lasted three days, during which the storm nearly blew itself out. And on the morning of the fourth day, when the sullen sea was trying to calm itself, and when the wind had died down to a moderate gale, the lookout of the Sirius called out:
"Sail ho!"
"Where away?" came the demand.