"Why—that's the revenue cutter again!" he cried. "I'm sure of it!
How about that, Joe?"
The engineer, who had left his machinery in charge of Slim Jim, for the time, cleared his eyes of the salty spray.
"I guess you're right," he agreed. "Couldn't make her out at first, but that's who she is. Guess she wants to ask us if we have any more information. Shall I heave to?"
"Better, I think," advised Cora, following Jack's questioning glance. For, be it known, Jack deferred more than usual to his sister on this cruise, since he had been under her direction, rather than she under his.
That it was the desire of the on-coming craft to have the Tartar slow up was evident a moment later. For, as the powerful motors revolved with less speed, a hail came over the heaving blue waters, that now had turned to a sickly green under the strange hue of the setting sun.
"On board the Tartar!" came the cry. Evidently the boat of our voyagers had not been forgotten.
"Ahoy!" shouted Jack, using a megaphone Cora handed him.
"Stand by!" was the next command. "We want to send"—there came an undistinguishable word—"aboard."
"They're going to send some one aboard!" cried Bess. "Oh, if it should be our folks—mother and father-your mother, Cora dear!"
A flush of excitement gathered on Cora's cheeks. Belle, too, felt that something was impending. Jack, and Walter exchanged glances.