The captain, with his glass could see more plainly than the others, and his astonishment grew greater.
"Why, he's a Spanish officer—a lieutenant, I think! And he is trying to hail us. What can it mean?"
"Perhaps he's got dispatches!" suggested some one.
It flashed over Clif in an instant what that meant, and Bessie Stuart heard him give a muffled exclamation of delight.
For he could see a blue-uniformed figure running down the shore and waving its arms wildly.
"It's Lieutenant Hernandez!" he panted.
And there was a wild gleam of hope in his eyes as he realized what that meant.
He might rescue them again!
Feverishly Clif watched to see what the gunboat would do. The captain continued staring and muttering exclamations of astonishment.
"I wonder if he does want us," he cried. "Por dios, I do think that's it."