Part 34 (1/2)
Was it imagination, or did he really see some small black object off to the left? His heart beat fast, and his nerves were throbbing so he could not hold the gla.s.ses steady.
Captain Spark roused himself from a brief nap. He saw what Bob was doing.
”See anything?” he asked listlessly.
”I don't know--I'm not sure--there's something off there that looks like----”
”Let me take the gla.s.ses!” cried the commander.
He fairly s.n.a.t.c.hed them from the boy. With his trained vision he looked long where Bob pointed. Then he cried:
”Thank G.o.d! There's a boat coming toward us. I think we're saved!
There are natives in it, but they don't seem to have any weapons!
I believe they're from the big island. Row, men, row as hard as you can and we'll meet them the sooner!”
Tim and Ned caught up the oars and sent the gig over the calm water at a fast rate of speed.
CHAPTER XXV
HOMEWARD BOUND----CONCLUSION
Before an hour had pa.s.sed the oncoming boat was in plain sight.
Then the castaways could see it contained four brown-skinned natives. But, though they were savages, they were not warlike. In fact, they waved their hands in welcome, and called encouragingly to those in the gig.
”I hope they have some water aboard,” said Mr. Tarbill. ”I'd give anything for some right off the ice.”
”I'd be glad of some out of a tea-kettle,” said the captain, for the last in the cask had been dealt out some time before.
A little later the commander was exchanging a few words with the natives, as he found he could speak a little of their language.
”We're within a few miles of the big island,” he told his anxious companions. ”This is a fis.h.i.+ng party in one of their big native canoes. They'll show us the way back, and they have plenty of water.”
The parched throats and swelling tongues of the castaways were soon relieved by a fairly cool drink from the filled skins in the native boat. Then the brown men pa.s.sed over some cocoanuts and other fruit that were grateful to the palates of the half-starved ones.
Captain Spark conversed a little longer with the friendly savages, and some news they gave him seemed to give him great satisfaction.
”There's an American s.h.i.+p in port at the island,” he said, ”and she's homeward bound around the Horn. We can take pa.s.sage in her.
Hurrah, men, our troubles seem to be over!”
”Thank G.o.d!” said Mr. Carr fervently, and so great was the strain on Mr. Tarbill that when it was relieved by the good news he cried like a child. Nor were Bob's eyes altogether dry.
A little breeze had sprung up, and, guided by the natives, the castaways were soon at the island. It was a large one, and the first sight they had of it showed them a big s.h.i.+p in the harbor.
At this they set up a cheer.