"Here! Where is you?"
Bill's great body emerged from the darkness. He cried out joyfully as he rushed forward, took Archie from Billy's arms, and slung him over his shoulder.
"Praise God!" he muttered tremulously, when he felt life stirring in the small body.
He put his face close to Billy Topsail's and looked steadily into the boy's eyes for an instant; and no words were needed to say what he meant.
"WE'RE SAVED!" SAID BILL.
But where was the hummock? Bill looked about.
"'Tis there," said Billy, pointing ahead.
Bill shook his head. His homing instinct, to which he had trusted his life in many a fog and night, told him otherwise. Reason entered into his decision not at all; he merely waited until he was persuaded that his face was turned in the right direction. Then he started off unhesitatingly. He had found the harbour entrance thus in many a thick summer night when his fishing punt rode a trackless sea.
"Take hold o' me jacket, b'y," he said to Billy. "Mind you stick close by me."