"Oh, I hope they take us on board and back home," said Nellie. "I
must say I am heartily tired of this yacht."
The wind was increasing, and the girls had to go back to the cabin
to keep from getting wet. The boys put up a flag, upside down, on a
piece of planking, and waited eagerly for the steamer to come nearer.
"The yacht is settling," cried Dick, a little while later. "Don't
you notice it?"
"The Old Glory has sprung some leaks," responded Captain Jerry sadly.
"Take the wheel while I go and look them over."
Tom and Sam, took the wheel, while old Jerry and Dick inspected the
leaks. They soon reported that two seams had opened at the bow, and
that there was a bad break at the stern, which was bound soon to
interfere with the rudder.
"I believe that steamer is going to leave us!" cried Sam, a little
while later.
"Oh, don't say that," said Dick. "We must signal her somehow."
"We'll fire some rockets," said Captain Jerry.
This was done, and a little later they saw that the steamer was
heading in their direction. By this time the Old Glory showed
unmistakable signs of being on the point of foundering, and the girls
were told to come on deck. Everybody was given a life preserver,
which had been kept close at hand since the beginning of the trouble.
"We are seen!" cried Sam joyously, as a signal came from the steamer.
Gradually the strange vessel drew closer, and they saw that she was
a rather clumsy affair of the "tramp" pattern, used to carry all
sorts of cargoes from one port to another.
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