“You have faith in our enterprise?”
“I have.”
At this moment the first mate called down from the ship’s bridge:
“There is a small tug over yonder making signals to us, skipper!”
Hartley started forward.
“A tug!” he cried. “Answer them at once! Can it be possible that it is Parker coming to meet us?”
“By Jove, I hope that is true!” cried Clifford heartily.
“If so,” said the captain, “he has very radically departed from all previous custom.”
The tug which had signaled the Aurelian now drew momentarily nearer.
Soon she was within hailing distance, and among her company the angular form of the owner of the Aurelian was seen.