Part 6 (1/2)

”Let's whistle for a wind,” suggested Rob, who had heard of sailors doing such a thing

”Better than doing nothing It will fill the tin

The boys squatted in a circle

”What histle?” asked Merritt

”'Wait Till the Clouds Roll By,' of course,” rejoined Rob

As the plaintive notes came from the whistlers' puckered lips, Tubby sauntered up, his hands in his tunic pockets

”What are you doing?” he asked, staring at the for a wind,” answered Merritt

”Huh; why don't you whistle for grub?” deloomily off once ht fell and found the had shut in closer if anything Since the last ti sound of the _Seneca's_ siren, they had heard no sound frory on board the _Good Hope_ that night

Then, too, the thought of the tragedy that had been consu presence of the silent figure in the forward deck house, were not calculated to inspire cheerful thoughts

One thing they did have, and that was light For in the course of their investigation of the old hulk they had stumbled across several old candle lanterns, the candles in which were still capable of burning One of these lanterns was lashed to the stu up in the cabin below For it was in this latter place that the little party of castaways gathered and tried, by telling stories and cracking jokes, to keep their spirits in the ascendent

But their efforts were not very successful As the Scotch say, ”It's ill jesting on an empty stomach,” and that is theThirst did not as yet trouble them much, but they knew that if they were not speedily picked up by some vessel, that would also be added to their ordeal

So the night passed aith the castaatching in turn for soht, and in Rob's watch, that a startling thing happened--soht his heart into his e

The boy was sitting up forward, pondering the strangeness of the day's happenings, when suddenly, right ahead of hi was split by the hoarse shriek of a steahtened from alarm as he leaped for the lantern

”Look out!” he shouted at the top of his voice; ”look out!”

But for reply there only came back out of the dense s steam whistle

”Gracious! We'll be run down! We'll be sunk!” cried the boy, half ith alarm

He shouted to his coe, black bulk looht above the derelict Rob shouted at the top of his voice It seemed as if the _Good Hope_ would be cut in two and that the steah the blackness flashed a green side-light, and then careat hull, with its rows of illuminated portholes

Rob stood stock still He was fairly rooted to the spot with panic But the big stea without anyone on board her ever drea derelict

As her stern lights flashed for an instant and then were shut out in the fog, Rob's co on deck

”What is it? What has happened?” de very serious had occurred