They finally decided after examining the
chart, to stand to the westward, and call off Saba. As they approached
the island a fishing-boat was seen standing out towards the schooner,
which was therefore hove to, to let her come alongside.

"I see Higson, and some of the others, but all I fear are not there,"
said Jack, who had been watching the boat through his glass, in a tone
which showed his anxiety. Higson was soon on board. He gave a full
account of what had happened.

"I would sooner have lost my own life than allowed any harm to happen to
the youngsters," he added. "Still I have hopes that they may have
escaped. Needham is a prime seaman, and he will have done what was
possible to keep the drogher afloat, though they were sadly
short-handed, I own. Still if the craft has not foundered, as they had
plenty of provisions and water aboard we may expect to see them again,
not the worse for their cruise. We have all been on the look-out,
hoping to see her beating up to the island. You'll not blame me, Mr
Rogers, more than I deserve, and I couldn't help it, you may depend on
that."

The old mate as he spoke well-nigh burst into tears. Jack and the other
lieutenants assured him that they did not see how he could be blamed,
and they then set to work to consider what was best to be done. They
first compared notes, and agreed as to the course of the hurricane, and
calculated the direction in which the drogher must have been driven, and
the distance she had probably gone, recollecting that as she had been
carried with the wind she must have been exposed to its fury for a much
longer time than those on shore.

"If it had not been for that they ought to have made their way back long
before this," observed Jack.

"Perhaps they have gone to Saint Eustatia or Saint Kitts," remarked
Murray.

"I am very sure, sir, that for our sakes they would have done their best
to make Saba," said Higson. "If they could have helped it they would
not have deserted us."

Jack, as senior officer, had to decide, and he determined, therefore, to
steer to the south-west for a couple of days, keeping a bright look-out
on either hand, and then to beat back to Antigua, thus going over a wide
extent of sea. It would occupy them a week or more, but Captain Hemming
they knew would not object to the delay. Captain Quasho and his crew as
a punishment were left to find their way back as best they could, and
the schooner stood away in the