Eagerly the voyagers swept the rolling expanse with their eyes. Not a sign of the schooner or any other vessel could be seen.
“She has gone to the bottom,” gasped Wade; “her fate is sealed!”
So it seemed. Frank procured his glass and scanned the vast expanse. He closed it, finally, saying:
“She has either gone down, or else the storm has blown her beyond our range of vision.”
“Do you believe the latter possible?” asked Wade.
“It is very likely.”
“I don’t know why it is,” said the scientist, “but I am mightily interested in that vessel. I would like to know her fate for a certainty.”
“Indeed!” exclaimed Frank, with some surprise. “Why more interested in her than any other craft we might meet?”
“I can hardly tell,” replied Wade, “but it is a certain fact that I am. I have some sort of a curious feeling that our career is in some manner intertwined with hers.”
Frank could not resist a laugh.