“No, I am not sure.  Tim, what do you think?” went on the captain.

The sailor shrugged his shoulders.  He was too anxious to even venture an opinion.

How eagerly all on board the little craft watched that dark object so far away!  One minute they felt certain the steamer was headed toward them, the next they were afraid it was moving off to the northward.

“Let’s sail after the steamer,” suggested Bob.

“It won’t help us much,” answered Mr. Carr.

“Never mind, it will help some,” came from Captain Spark, and they sailed and rowed with all the skill and strength they possessed.

“Are we closer?” asked Mr. Tarbill.

“Not yet!” answered the captain.

“Can’t we call to them?”

“No—­but we can fire a shot,” answered Captain Spark, and not one shot but half a dozen were discharged.

“If only the lookout sees us,” said Bob.  “I wish we could hoist some big signal.”

But they had nothing larger than the sail and a shirt.  Mr. Carr furnished the garment and it was tied to the masthead.  But if those on the steamer saw the signal they gave no sign.

“She’s goin’ away!” wailed Tim Flynn at last.  “Bad luck to her fer lavin’ us!”

“Going away!” ejaculated Bob, and his heart sank like a lump of lead in his bosom.

“Don’t say that!” wailed Mr. Tarbill.  “Shout—­fire a gun—­anything!  They must come and rescue us!” And in his nervousness the man began to caper about wildly.

“Look out, or you’ll go overboard!” shouted Captain Spark.

Scarcely had he spoken when the boat was caught by a big wave and stood up almost on end.  With a yell Mr. Tarbill slid to the stern, clutched at the gunwale, and disappeared with a splash.

“Man overboard!”

“Of all the fools!” muttered Mr. Carr.  “Why couldn’t he sit still and behave himself?” His patience, so far as the nervous passenger was concerned, was completely exhausted.

Bob reached for the boathook, and as soon as Mr. Tarbill came up, he caught the iron in the man’s coat and hauled him to the side.  Then the captain and Tim Flynn hauled him back on board.

“Help!  I am drowning!  Save me!” spluttered the nervous passenger.  “I’ll go to the bottom of the Pacific!”

“No, you won’t,” answered Captain Spark.  “But after this you had better sit still.”

“Oh, what a trying experience!” wailed the unfortunate one.  He cleared his mouth of water.  “Why did you let me go overboard?” he demanded.  “Why didn’t you stop me when you saw me slipping?”

“Didn’t have time,” answered the captain.  “You ought to thank Bob for hooking you.”

“He tore my coat sleeve,” said Mr. Tarbill, examining the garment.  “And it’s the only coat I have now,” he added mournfully.

“Never mind, maybe you won’t need a coat soon,” put in Mr. Carr, who was more disgusted than ever.