ls,
I am certain of it. I think, too, she is standing this way."

"Come down, then," said Desmond, "and I'll have a look out through the
glass." He had a telescope slung at his back. He swarmed up until he
reached the head of the shrouds, when, securing himself, he brought his
glass to bear in the direction Billy had pointed.

"You are right, Billy," he exclaimed, after taking a steady look through
it. "I can make out the fore, main, and the head of the mizzen royals.
A large ship too, and, as you say, she is standing this way, with the
wind from the eastward. She will not pass far from this either."
Having taken another steady glance through the glass, Desmond descended;
indeed, the thickening gloom by this time almost shut out the sail from
sight. He and Billy hurried back to the camp.

"Hurrah! hurrah!" they shouted out in one breath. "There is a ship
coming to take us off!"

The rest of the party were incredulous until Desmond fully described the
appearance of the sail. "And now let us get the beacon fire alight," he
exclaimed.

"No great hurry for that," said Tom.

"It could not be seen for some time, but we will carry up a supply of
fuel to keep it burning all night. There may be a sail, but you cannot
be positive she is standing this way, or if she is she may alter her
course, which will carry her to a distance from us," said the doctor.

"But I can be positive that she is standing this way," exclaimed
Desmond. "She may alter her course, but our fire will be seen."

At the doctor's suggestion, one of the oil barrels was rolled up that
the contents might increase the flame. Every one was eager to light the
beacon fire; even Billy forgot to propose that they should first eat
their supper.

The doctor remarked that as the ship was drawing near they should send
up a long spar, placed horizon tally with a burning mass at the end of
it, which from its greater height might be seen further off than the
fire on the ground.

His plan was adopted; the signal halyards were strong enough for the
purpose, and by means of a line at the other end it could be hoisted
without risk of burning the shrouds. He quickly manufactured a fusee,
so that the mass would not blaze up until the yard was fixed. The
material to be fired was composed of oakum mixed with gunpowder, canvas
saturated with oil, and bundles of shavings kept together with pieces of
iron hoop. Tom gave the word to hoist away, and "the flying be