"It's a steamer," said Captain Spark.

"Is it headed this way?" asked Bob, eagerly.

"I believe so."

"Are you sure, sir?" came from Mr. Tarbill. "Please don't make any
mistake."

"No, I am not sure. Tim, what do you think?" went on the captain.

The sailor shrugged his shoulders. He was too anxious to even
venture an opinion.

How eagerly all on board the little craft watched that dark object
so far away! One minute they felt certain the steamer was headed
toward them, the next they were afraid it was moving off to the
northward.

"Let's sail after the steamer," suggested Bob.

"It won't help us much," answered Mr. Carr.

"Never mind, it will help some," came from Captain Spark, and they
sailed and rowed with all the skill and strength they possessed.

"Are we closer?" asked Mr. Tarbill.

"Not yet!" answered the captain.

"Can't we call to them?"

"No--but we can fire a shot," answered Captain Spark, and not one
shot but half a dozen were discharged.

"If only the lookout sees us," said Bob. "I wish we could hoist
some big signal."

But they had nothing larger than the sail and a shirt. Mr. Carr
furnished the garment and it was tied to the masthead. But if
those on the steamer saw the signal they gave no sign.

"She's goin' away!" wailed Tim Flynn at last. "Bad luck to her fer
lavin' us!"

"Going away!" ejaculated Bob, and his heart sank like a lump of
lead in his bosom.

"Don't say that!" wailed Mr. Tarbill. "Shout--fire a
gun--anything! They must come and rescue us!" And in his
nervousness the man began to caper about wildly.

"Look out, or you'll go overboard!" shouted Captain Spark.

Scarcely had he spoken when the boat was caught by a big wave and
stood up almost on end. With a yell Mr. Tarbill slid to the stern,
clutched at the gunwale, and disappeared with a splash.

"Man overboard!"

"Of all the fools!" muttered Mr. Carr. "Why couldn't he sit still
and behave himself?" His patience, so far as the nervous passenger
was concerned, was completely exhausted.

Bob reached for the boathook, and as soon as Mr. Tarbill came up,
he caught the iron in the man's coat and hauled him to the side.
Then the captain and Tim Flynn hauled him back on board.

"Help! I am drowning! Save me!" spluttered the nervous passenger.
"I'll go to the bottom of the Pacific!"

"No, you won't," answered Captain Spark. "But after this you had
better sit still."

"Oh, what a trying experie