Presently the waving ceased, and then the thought suddenly struck me that, receiving no response, she had in despair given up signalling.  Cursing my stupidity, I jerked my handkerchief from my pocket, and, climbing a little way into the rigging, I began to wave it madly.  Almost instantly her waving recommenced.  I soon stopped signalling, and so did she.  No more of that was needed.  I sprang to the deck and took up the glass.

The woman was gone, but in a few moments she reappeared armed with a glass.  This action filled me with amazement.  Could it be possible that the woman was alone on the steamer, and that there was no one else to signal and to look out?  The thing was incredible, and yet, if there were men on board, why did they not show themselves?  And why did not one of them wave the signal and use the glass?

The steamer was steadily but very slowly nearing the Sparhawk, when the woman removed the glass and stood up waist high above the rail of the steamer Now I could see her much better; I fancied I could almost discern her features.  She was not old; she was well shaped; her bluish gray dress fitted her snugly.  Holding the rail with one hand she stood up very erect, which must have been somewhat difficult, considering the inclination of the deck.  For a moment I fancied I had seen or known some one whose habit it was to stand up very erect as this woman stood upon the steamer.  The notion was banished as absurd.

Wondering what I should do, what instant action I should take, I laid down my glass, and as I did so the woman immediately put up hers.  Her object was plain enough; she wanted to observe me, which she could not well do when a view of my face was obstructed by the glass and my outstretched arms.  I was sorry that I had not sooner given her that opportunity, and for some moments I stood and faced her, waving my hat as I did so.

I was wild with excitement.  What should I do?  What could I do?  There were no boats on the Sparhawk, and what had become of the one in which I reached her I did not know.  Thinking of nothing but getting on board the vessel, I had forgotten to make the boat fast, and when I went to look for it a day or two afterward it was gone.  On the steamer, however, I saw a boat hanging from davits near the stern.  There was hope in that.

But there might be no need for a boat.  Under the influence of the gentle breeze, the steamer was steadily drawing nearer to the Sparhawk.  Perhaps they might touch each other.  But this idea was soon dispelled, for I could see that the wind would carry the steamer past me, although, perhaps, at no great distance.  Then my hopes sprang back to the boat hanging from her davits.

But before these hopes could take shape the woman and her glass died out of sight behind the rail of the steamer.  In about a minute she reappeared, stood up erect, and applied a speaking-trumpet to her mouth.  It was possible that a high, shrill voice might have been heard from one vessel to the other, but it was plain enough that this was a woman who took no useless chances.  I, too, must be prepared to hail as well as to be hailed.  Quickly I secured a speaking-trumpet from the captain’s room, and stood up at my post.