"We will—never fear!" cried Jack, with as much enthusiasm as he could muster at short notice.
It was little use to linger longer on Sea Horse Island. No more information concerning the escaped man was available. It must be a "blind search" from then on. Still, the searchers did not give up hope, and once more the Tartar was under way.
I shall not weary you with the details of the final part of her cruise. Suffice it to say that many islands were called at, and many vessels spoken, with a view to finding out if any of the uninhabited coral specks in that stretch of blue West Indian waters had, of late, showed signs of being inhabited by a lone man. But no helpful clue was obtained.
Still the search was kept up. Mr. Robinson, his wife and Mrs. Kimball stayed with the young people, having renewed their wardrobes at the first suitable stopping place. Then the search was resumed.
And, curiously enough, it was Inez who discovered the torn rag, floating from a tree, which gave the signal that help was needed at a lonely isle they reached about two weeks after the search began.
"I think some one is zere," she said to Jack, pointing to the signal.
"It does look so," he agreed. "We'll put in there."
"A hard place to live," said Lieutenant Walling, as he came on deck and viewed the little Island. "It is very barren."
"Do you—do you think it can be my father?" faltered Inez.
"It is possible—it is some poor soul, at all events—or some one has been there," the officer concluded.