“Ay,” boomed another, “a headin’ straight cross our course astern.”

I sat up, ignoring all else, thoroughly awake from excitement, gazing under hollowed hands in the direction the men pointed.  For an instant I distinguished nothing but sea and sky, with patches of white cloud speckling the horizon.  My heart sank with the belief that one of these had been mistaken for the sheen of a distant sail.  Then as our boat was suddenly flung higher on the crest of a great wave, my straining eyes caught the unmistakable glimmer of canvas, could even detect its outline plainly delineated against the blue background.  I reached my feet, clinging to the mast to keep erect and, as the boat was again flung upward, gained clearly the glimpse I sought.

“Ay, you’re right, lads!” I exclaimed.  “It’s a schooner, headed to clear us by a hundred fathoms.  Port your helm Schmitt—­hard down man.  Watch out the boom don’t hit you, Miss Fairfax.  Now, Sam, off with that red shirt; tie it on the boat hook, and let fly.  They can’t help seeing us if there is any watch on deck.”

We swept about in a wide circle, shipping some water as we dipped gunwale under, but came safely out from the smother, headed straight across the bows of the oncoming vessel.  All eyes stared out watchfully, Sam’s shirt flapping above us, and both Watkins and Schmitt straining their muscles to hold the plunging quarter-boat against the force of the wind.  A man forward on his knees growled out a curse.

“What the hell’s the matter aboard there?” he yelled.  “Did yer ever see a boat yaw like that, afore?  Damn me, if I believe they got a hand at the wheel.”

The same thought had leaped into my mind.  The schooner was headed to pass us on the port quarter, yet yawing so crazily at times as to make me fearful of being run down.  I could perceive no sign of life aboard, no signal that we had been seen.  Indeed from where we crouched in the boat all we could see now was the bow with the jib and foresail.  Not a head peered at us over the rail; in silent mystery it seemed to fly straight at us like a great bird, sweeping through water and sky.  The sight angered me.

“Stand by, all hands,” I cried desperately.  “We’ll board whether they want us or not.  Slip across, Miss Fairfax, out of the way.  Now, Watkins, run us in under those fore-chains; easy man, don’t let her strike us.  Lay hold quick lads and hang on for your lives.  Give me that end of rope—­ready now, all of you; I’ll make the leap.  Now then—­hold hard!”

It was five feet, and up, my purchase the tossing boat, but I made it, one hand desperately gripping a shroud, until I gained balance and was flung inboard by a sharp plunge of the vessel.  My head was at a level with the rail, yet I saw nothing, my whole effort being to make fast before the grip of the men should be torn loose.  This done I glanced back into the upturned faces below.

“Hand in slowly lads; yes, let go, the rope will hold, and the boat ride safely enough.  Let a couple of men come up till we see what’s wrong with the hooker—­the rest of you trail on.”