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 passed 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 fishing 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 passed 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 ship in port at the island,” he said, “and she’s homeward bound around the Horn.  We can take passage in her.  Hurrah, men, our troubles seem to be over!”

“Thank God!” 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 ship in the harbor.  At this they set up a cheer.

It did not take Captain Spark long to arrange matters with the American skipper.  He agreed to let the sailors, Bob and Mr. Tarbill work their passage home, and Captain Spark was to give his services as assistant navigator in lieu of passage money.

As the ship was taking on part of a cargo of native produce from the island she was not quite ready to sail, and in the meanwhile Bob and the captain went about the island a bit, Bob collecting a number of curiosities.  The natives treated them kindly, and the four who had saved the lives of the castaways by appearing in the nick of time felt well repaid by the present of a few trinkets which Bob and the sailors had in their pockets.

Finally the time came for them to take passage on the Walrus, which was the name of the American ship.  They sailed one bright morning, and under a spanking breeze the big island was presently low down on the horizon.