.

"There, what d'ye think of that?" asked Frank.

He was pointing out toward the great bay, as he said this; and, looking,
Ned discovered that the last of the sea fog and mist had cleared away,
leaving the air as clear as a bell. Far away over the water he saw
several strange lights. They seemed to rise and fall in a mysterious
fashion; and yet Ned knew that there was nothing at all queer about
this.

"The phantom fleet at anchor!" said Frank, and it was hard to tell from
his manner whether he meant all his words implied or not.

"Yes," said Ned, soberly, "whatever those vessels are, they might help
us out of this scrape, if only we could get in communication with them,"
and he stood there for some time, staring reflectively out toward the
twinkling lights on the swelling sea.

CHAPTER XXI.

UNEXPECTED HELP.

"They're coming, Ned!" whispered Jack, in a hoarse tone.

"But that sound surely came from seaward, Jack?" expostulated the other.

"I know it did, and must have been the sneeze of a man at that," replied
the second scout. "But what of it, Ned? We must remember they've got
other boats besides our canoes, and it might be possible for them to row
around from the mouth of the Harricanaw to this place."

"Yes, possibly," said Ned, "but hardly probable in so short a time. But
like you, I believe it was a man who sneezed, and that he was out there
on the water. Look again, and see if you can pick up a boat moving,
Jack."

For a full minute the pair stood and strained their eyes to the utmost,
gazing minutely over the rolling waters, from the place where the white
foam could be seen, far out to sea. Ned even noted which way the night
breeze held, and in that quarter he kept his eyes glued the longest
time, as though instinct told him the mysterious sound must have been
carried on the wings of the wind.

There were all those twinkling riding-lights on the vessels composing
the fleet of whaling or sealing craft, which had come to obtain such a
strange reputation for appearing and vanishing so wonderfully. Perhaps,
as Ned observed them again, he unconsciously connected the sneeze with
their presence; but then this thought quickly gave way to the other. It
was more natural that they should expect those men of the fake mine to
be afloat near by, endeavoring to find some vulnerable part of the
stranded wreck, where they could deliver a successful attack.

"I see it, Ned!" suddenly said Jack, triumphantl