Page:Barbour--Lost island.djvu/328

 not knowing anything about the currents. Allow me to remark, Dave, that that was some feat of seamanship on my part. Jim, you bottle-nosed squab, glue your eyes to these glasses and tell me if you see anything of a sailing boat in the offing. There's a friend of mine in it, and I particularly want to say 'good morning' to him."

Jim obeyed instructions, and searched in every direction without success.

"I guess they 've taken a short cut," Tempest observed. "Flagg did n't have to make Fanning Island first. Well, well, that's a point in his favor. It puts him another hour, or maybe two, ahead. I hope one of his sails splits, and that's the most charitable thing I can say for him."

As the breeze remained steady and there was no indication of any change in the weather, Tempest gave the tiller to Dave during the morning, and snatched a couple of hours' sleep, curled up in the bottom of the boat. It was afternoon when the boy aroused him. He would not have done so