the craft knew what to
do. Once Bob tried to cheer up and hum a ditty, but the effort was
a dismal failure.

"Bob, I reckon you are sorry now that you left home and came with
me," observed the captain soberly.

"I'm not sorry that I left home," answered the lad promptly. "But
I must confess I am sorry that all of us are in such a pickle as
this."

"If I had known my ship was going to be wrecked I'd not have taken
you on this voyage."

"It is an awful loss."

"Yes--but I sha'n't mind it so much, if only we reach a place of
safety."

"Oh, if only I was home!" sighed Mr. Tarbill. "If only I was home!"

"Wouldn't just dry land suit you?" queried Bob, with a bit of his
old-time humor.

"I--I suppose so, but I'd like home best."

"Any land would suit me just now," put in the captain.

"Supposing we should land among cannibals!" murmured the nervous
passenger.

"I don't believe there are any around here," answered Captain Spark.

"But are you sure?"

"No, I am not sure."

"I knew it! Oh, if the savages got us it would be terrible!" And
Mr. Tarbill shuddered.

"Well, he's a wet blanket, if ever there was one!" declared Mr.
Carr, in deep disgust.

"I am--er--a wet blanket?" demanded the nervous passenger.

"Yes, you are!" declared the other. "And I, for one, am tired of
hearing you croak."

"Hum!" murmured Mr. Tarbill, and then, for the time being, he said
no more. The constant rocking of the boat made him somewhat sick
at the stomach, and he was anything but happy.

Bob could not help but think of home, and of his dear mother and
father. If he was lost, what would they say and what would they do?

"Dear folks at home!" he murmured. "If I ever get back you'll find
me a different boy, yes, indeed, you will! No more silly tricks
for Bob!" And he shut his lips with a firmness that meant a great
deal.

The boy had just closed his eyes to take a nap when a loud cry from
Tim Flynn awoke him.

"What's the matter?" he questioned.

"What do you see, Tim?" asked the captain.

The sailor was at the bow, standing up on the seat and gazing far
across the rising and falling waters. He did not answer until the
craft was on the crest of a high wave.

"A ship!" he exclaimed.

"Where?" came from all of the others in concert.

"Dead ahead!"

Both the captain and Mr. Carr looked and saw that the report was
true. Far, far away could be seen a low-lying dark object, with a
trail of smoke behind it.