"Bless my pocket comb! But I told you it would come out all right, if we left it to Tom!" declared Mr. Damon.
"But it hasn't come out yet," remarked the pessimistic scientist. "The steamer may arrive too late."
"You're a cheerful sort of fellow to take on a yachting trip," murmured Mr. Hosbrook, sarcastically. "I'll never invite you again, even if you are a great scientist."
"I'm going to sit and watch for the steamer," declared Mr. Damon, as he went outside the shack. The night was warm, and there was a full moon. "Which way will she come from, Tom?"
"I don't know, but I should think, that if she was on her way north, from South America, she'd pass on the side of the island on which we now are."
"That's right," agreed Captain Mentor. "She'll come up from over there," and he pointed across the ocean directly in front of the shacks and camp.
"Then I'm going to see if I can't be the first to sight her lights," declared Mr. Damon.
"She can't possibly get here inside of a day, according to what the operator said," declared Tom.
"Wire them to put on all the speed they can," urged the eccentric man.
"No, don't waste any more power or energy than is needed," suggested Mr. Hosbrook. "You may need the gasolene before we are rescued. They are on their way, and that is enough for now."