It was getting towards sundown when Striker uttered a sudden shout.
"A boat! a steamship!"
"Where?" ejaculated Larry, rousing up. "I can't see anything," he went on, as Striker pointed with his finger. "I see a bit of smoke, though."
"She is well down in the water and painted dark. I can see her quite plainly."
"Oh, yes, I see her now. Do you think she is coming this way?" was the boy's next anxious question; then, before Striker could answer, he continued: "There is another steamer, over to the left! And there is another—or am I dreaming?"
He pointed this way and that, and the Yankee sailor followed the indications eagerly.
"There ain't no mistake, Larry, they're all there; and see, there's another bit of smoke off to the north'ard. We must be right in the track o' some reg'lar line, though what line I can't imagine, nor why so many of the steamships should be out here at one time," added Striker, in much perplexity.
"I don't care about that, if only one of them will come this way and pick us up."
"They are coming this way—as straight as a string," cried Striker, after five minutes of painful
