Toward the Porpoise all started on a run. As they neared her they found that the rising tide had floated her.
"We must see if the natives damaged her," spoke Mr. Henderson as soon as he set foot on deck. "If they have it will be a hard matter to make repairs so far from civilization."
A hasty examination, however, showed that the savages had disturbed little. The engine was soon set in motion, and, in ten minutes the ship was steaming away from the coast, headed toward the south, the goal they were so eagerly seeking.
As soon as they were well out to sea, and all sight of the canoes of the savages had been lost, supper was served, and all brought good appetites to the table. For, though the improvised meals on shore had tasted good, there had not been much to them.
For several days the Porpoise was kept on her course, sailing along under the water by day, and upon the surface at night. It was one pleasant afternoon, while Nellie, Jack and Mark were sitting out on the deck, during one of the times when the boat had risen to the surface to renew the air supply, that a strange commotion was observed off their lee. The ocean seemed to be boiling.
"What is that?" asked the little girl.
The two boys looked to where she pointed. Indeed the ocean seemed to be bubbling up and down in a strange manner.
"It's a school of porpoises," said Jack.
Just then the water became alive with big fish. They leaped over each other, springing high into the air and falling back into the sea with resounding splashes.
"They're not porpoises! They're whales! Baby whales!" yelled Mark. "Look out or some of the big ones may ram the boat!"