"That's a fact," admitted the other bitterly. "A man hasn't much chance to learn to swim on the veldt. See anything coming?"
"White light," replied Colin laconically. "Yes, and red ... and green," added the Afrikander. "It's a ship. Can't be the Huldebras; she was chock-full of lights."
"How can we attract her attention?" asked Sinclair. "We're right in her track."
"Don't know so much about that," declared Van de Wyck. "Her starboard light's disappeared. She's altering her course. But I'll have a try for it, anyway. I haven't broken the company's regulations concerning firearms for nothing."
Hanging on to the buoy with one hand, Van der Wyck produced a revolver from his hip pocket. Holding it well above his head to allow the water to drain from the barrel, he added:
"I don't think it'll burst, but keep your face turned away. Thank goodness I have waterproof cartridges."
A streak of reddish flame, followed by a deafening; report, stabbed the starlit night. For some moments the flash blinded the pair.
"She's still holding on," declared Colin. "Don't know, though. It looks as if she's altering her course again."
"I'll try another shot," decided Van der Wyck. "Fortunately I've about a dozen cartridges besides five in the pistol."