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 puts us back from letting papa or Mr. Marcy or any body know what has happened to us? They must all be terribly anxious."

Touchtone quite realized that important dilemma. There were, indeed, the others to think of besides themselves. He had long since remembered that their friends on shore now might easily be believing the worst about them. Other boats must have landed safely from the abandoned steamer, and the list of passengers have been carefully reckoned over. What might not the newspapers be circulating that very moment? But there was nothing to be done now. One thing at a time.

"We cannot help that, Gerald, quite yet. If they are anxious they must stay so, old fellow, till we find some way of sending word. If no boat lands here to-morrow with any of the people that belong here in it, we will mount a signal of distress, of some sort."

"But it's known that people live here! Signals wont count for much unless we can manage to hit on just the proper sort of one."

"O, come, now! We're not Robinson Crusoes, remember! Before to-morrow noon, I expect, we shall have the people who live here