Suddenly John stood up in the boat and cheered at the top of his voice.
“Look there!” he cried. “There’s land this time, all right!”
CHAPTER X
ASHORE
All eyes were immediately turned in the direction in which John pointed. Sure enough, and every one saw it this time, land appeared far off on the distant horizon. It could be seen only faintly, but there was no mistaking it. The low-lying shore and the outline of a few hills were plainly visible.
“What do you think of that?” exclaimed Grant joyously. “It certainly looks as if our luck had turned.”
“Sho’ it has,” said Sam readily. “Soon as we lef’ dat hard luck Finn Ah knowed we’d be all right. Ah suttinly is glad Ah is not in de same boat wid him.”
These words of Sam threw a sudden damper upon every one in the boat. The four boys looked at one another in consternation and much of their joy at the sight of land was taken away by the recollection of the tragic end of their shipmate Petersen. Sam, however, seemed entirely unconscious of having said anything out of the way. His face was wreathed in smiles and showed nothing but satisfaction, now that he was separated from Petersen. If any doubt had still lingered in the boys’ minds as to Sam’s sincerity that doubt was now dispelled. There was no question at all that the negro recalled nothing of his tragic deed.
“What’s de mattah wid you gentlemen?” demanded Sam, noticing the strange behavior of the four young sailors.
“Nothing at all,” said Grant quickly.