Page:Enterprise and Adventure.djvu/167

Rh For some days they struggled on, skirting the shore, and at night landing for rest and shelter; when one morning all were filled with joy by hearing the look-out man announce a sail in the offing. Instantly the boats were launched, signals made by burning wet powder, and the crew embarking made for the direction of the welcome sail. It was a dead calm; but they made progress, and the calm was far more welcome than the slight breeze which sprang up as the morning advanced. But for this breeze they would soon have been near the stranger, but to their great grief they saw her sails spread out, as she began to make way to the south-eastward, the opposite direction to that in which they were proceeding. The boat that was foremost was thus soon left astern, while the other two were steering more to the eastward in the hope of cutting her out. Their disappointment appeared complete; when, after a struggle of four hours, they saw to their surprise another sail. She appeared to be a whaler lying-to for her boats. The unfortunate explorers fancied that the stranger had seen them; but a fact soon showed that in this they were mistaken. Like the first ship, she began to make sail, and it was evident that this second hope was also leaving them. This was indeed an agony of suspense; but it was necessary to keep up the courage of the men by assuring them that there was yet a chance of coming up with her. Happily, at length, it fell calm once more, and now they really began to gain fast upon the strange ship; until at about eleven o'clock, after a day terribly wearisome, they saw her heave-to with all sails aback, and lower down a boat which rowed immediately towards them.