"That's so. It's broken off above the masthead cap."
"She must have had a pretty lively time of it with the gale."
"Sure enough. I wonder where she's bound?"
They watched her in silence for half an hour, and then Peter sprang to his feet with an exclamation:
"Guinea-pigs and dogs! She's trying to make this harbor."
"That's what!" cried Randall, slapping his knee.
They watched her now with more interest than ever. She was not more than two miles off the entrance now, and Peter was intensely interested. Suddenly he started down the hill toward the boat.
"What is it!" cried Randall, following him.
"She's flying the flag union down, and she's so heavy in her movements that I believe she's sinking."
With nervous haste the boys got their boat afloat, and hoisted the mainsail. In a few minutes they were standing out of the mouth of the harbor with the long swells underrunning their light craft. Somehow news of the incoming vessel had reached Searsbridge, and several of the residents had ridden down to the Head to see what was going to happen. Some of them caught sight of the little dinghy running out, and waved at her to return. But the boys were in earnest now, and were not to be turned from their course.