with every yard of progress that she made.

"Lookout, ahoy, there!" shouted out the captain to the man on the fore
crosstrees. "Do you see anything of them yet?"

"Not a speck in sight," was the answer; and still the _Sea Rover_ clove
through the water on what they guessed to have been their former course,
and the sky and the sea grew darker and darker and seemed to mingle
together, gradually diminishing their area of vision.

"We must have passed the spot by this time," said the captain presently
to the chief officer, when the ship had gone some two miles after coming
about. "Send another lookout into the main-top; and you, Dawkins,"
addressing one of the hands standing near, "sky up here in the
mizzen-rigging and see if you can see anything. Look well round to
leeward as well as ahead, for we may have overrun them."

"Ay, ay," said the man as he scrambled up the shrouds, and quickly made
his way, not merely into mizzen-top, but on the topgallant-yard, where
he sat astride and scanned the horizon to his right and left, to
windward and leeward of the vessel's wake.

"On deck there!" he hailed in a little time. He had the keenest sight
of any man on board.

"Ay, ay!" answered the captain. "Speak out!"

"There is something to windward, two points on the weather-bow."

"How far?"

"About half a mile or more, sir; but it may be less."

"We must get her a couple of points nearer the wind," said the captain
to the chief officer. "Clew up the courses, set the flying-jib, and let
us get the mainsail on her, and see what she can do. Come, look smart
and brace the yards round. Keep her helm up!" he added to the men at
the wheel, lending them a hand as he spoke. "Hard!"

The _Sea Rover_ leaned over, gunwales under, and made deep bows to the
sea, pitching the water over her fore-yard, as, her head being brought
round a couple of points more, she sailed almost in the wind's-eye,
taking all that two men could do to steer her, besides the captain.

"Aloft there!" shouted the captain once more to the lookout men. "How's
her head now? Does she bear towards the object, or is it still to
windward?"

"Steady!" was the answer. "She's right for it now. Luff a bit, steady,
it's right ahead."

"What is it? Can you see them?" cried the captain, eagerly peering into
the distance himself.

"Looks like floating timber, sir. I can't see anybody as yet; it seems
all awash."

A moment further of breathless suspense