It was evident, after a moment's glance, that the two men who had so silently stolen from their rooms were together in the bow of the steamer, or as far up in the bow as they could get. The deck was open at this point, and, leaning over the side, it would be easy to flash a signal on either beam. The lookout on the bridge was probably too much occupied in sweeping the sea ahead and to either side of the ship to direct his attention to the vessel itself.
"Come on," whispered Blake to the other two. "We want to hear what they are saying if we can, and see what they're doing."
Silently the boys stole forward until they could make out the dim figures more clearly. There was no doubt that they were those of Secor and Labenstein. And then, as the boys paused, fearing to get so close as to court discovery, they saw a little light flash.
Three times up and down on the port side of the bows went a little flash of light, and then it suddenly went out.
"My electric light," whispered Blake in Joe's ear.
"But I thought you said it would burn out!"
"I hope it has. I think——"
From one of the figures in the bow came a guttural exclamation:
"The infernal light has gone out!"
"So?" came from the other.