ould now see that she was a large vessel--a liner, to judge from
the rows of lighted portholes on her steep black sides. Her bow lights
gleamed like the eye of some monster intent on devouring the Flying
Fish and her occupants. On and on she came. The air trembled with the
vibration of her mighty engines, and a great white "'bone" foamed up at
her sharp prow.

Not one of the boys spoke as the vessel came nearer and nearer,
although it speedily grew evident that unless a wind sprang up or the
lookout saw them, it was inevitable that they would be cut in two
amidships.

"Remember what I said," warned Tubby, in a strange, strained voice.
"Dive deep and stay tinder as long as you can."

And now the great vessel seemed scarcely more than two or three boat
lengths from the tiny cockleshell on which she was bearing down. As a
matter of fact, though, her towering bulk made her appear much nearer
than she actually was.

"Can't we do anything, Merritt?" gasped Hiram, with chattering teeth.
"We might try shouting once more," suggested Tubby in a voice that
quivered in spite of his efforts to keep it steady.

"All together now--come on!"

"Ship ahoy! You'll run us down! St-eam-er a-hoy!"

Suddenly there were signs of confusion on the bow of the big vessel.
Men could be seen running about and waving their arms.

"By hookey, they've seen us!" breathed Merritt, hardly daring to
believe it, however.

The others were speechless with suspense.

Suddenly from the bow of the oncoming steamer a great fan-shaped ray of
dazzling light shot out and enveloped the boys and their boat in its
bewildering radiance.

"Hard over, hard over!" the boys could hear the lookout roaring, and
the command rang hoarsely back along the decks to the wheelhouse.

Slowly, very slowly, as if reluctant to give up her prey, the bow of
the mighty liner swung off, and the boys were safe.

"Look out for the wash," warned Merritt, as the great black bulk,
pierced with hundreds of glowing portholes, ploughed regally by them,
her deck crowded with curious passengers. A voice shouted down from
the bridge:

"What in blazing sea serpents are you doing out here in that marine oil
stove?"

The boys made no attempt to reply. They had all they could do to hang
on, as the Flying Fish danced about like a drifting cork in the wash of
the great vessel. They could see, however, that several of her
passengers were clustered at her stern rail, gazing wonderi