it is, Jimmy; and one that does you
credit," said Ned. "If only we can carry it out, we've got the biggest
chance for escaping that could ever come our way. It all depends on
whether they really mean to try and board the wreck. We're not so dead
sure of that yet, you know."

The spirits of the others, buoyed up so suddenly by the prospect of a
speedy release from their predicament, underwent a drop. It was as
though the temperature had fallen from blood heat to freezing.

"Oh! but we were all certain they meant to try and board us a minute
ago, Ned; and let's see if they are still on the same course," with
which Jack, as well as the others sought to again catch a fleeting sight
of the oncoming boat.

It was not the easiest thing in the world to glimpse such a dusky
looking object in such uncertain light, and with the waves rising and
falling. But it happened that while they had been talking, Francois
managed to keep his eye fixed on the boat, and so he was able to point
it out to them.

"Oh! joy, she is still heading right for us!" said Jimmy, who had felt
the slump worse than any of the others, because of the fact that the
idea was his own.

What he said was true, and all of them could see that the two men in the
boat were pulling hard to come along with the sweep of the sea.

"Better get ready to lay the trap, hadn't we?" asked Jack, nervously.

"Oh! that will be easy enough when we make sure of where they expect to
board," the patrol leader told him; but, at the same time, he knew full
well that the boat would naturally have to swing around to the sheltered
side of the wreck, before those in it could hope to pull in.

All of them watched, with their hearts beating like trip-hammers, so
excited had the sudden hope made them.

The seconds seemed to pass on leaden wings to Jimmy. Several times he
moved uneasily, and Ned could hear the sigh that welled up from the
depths of his heart. This happened when, to his excited fancy, the
oncoming boat seemed to remain motionless on the swelling wave for a
brief period. Possibly at such times the rowers ceased their labors, for
the purpose of scrutinizing the dark hulk, which they were then
approaching, as though to make sure that they would find all well.

Each time, however, they started to rowing again, and as they drew
nearer to the shore, of course, they had to put more strength into their
strokes, because of the suction of the eddies that surged around the bow