"Dead ahead. She's a schooner, low in the water, and she's flying a signal of distress!"
CHAPTER XXV
CLEAR SKIES
Instantly there was commotion and excitement on board the Sirius, for Russ and Mr. Sneed had told their story of the starting out to make a pictured shipwreck, which shipwreck had evidently, now, become real.
"That's the Mary Ellen, I'm sure of it!" Russ cried as he caught a glimpse of the sighted schooner. "But what has happened to her?"
"Masts are gone, and she's sinking," one of the steamer's officers told him. "I guess we can't get to her any too quickly."
And it was high time a rescue was made, for Captain Jepson, and Mr. Pertell had decided to take to the boats with all on board.
The Mary Ellen was sinking; there was no doubt of that. All that could be done had been done, but to no avail.
But hope revived when the steamer was sighted.