s
about a change of weather, but assured the boys that this was only the
last gasp of the sou-wester, and that a change was bound to take place
before evening. But though the fog was visible below Ile Haute, it did
not seem to come any nearer, and at length the schooner approached the
island, and dropped anchor.

It was about half past four in the morning, and the light of day was
beginning to be diffused around, when they reached their destination.
As it was low tide, they could not approach very near, but kept well
off the precipitous shores on the south side of the island. In the
course of her drift, while letting go the anchor, she went off to a
point about half way down, opposite the shore. Scarce had her anchor
touched bottom, than the impatient boys were all in the boat, calling
on Captain Corbet to come along. The captain and Wade took the oars.

It was a long pull to the shore, and, when they reached it, the tide
was so low that there remained a long walk over the beach. They had
landed about half way down the island, and, as they directed their
steps to the open ground at the east end, they had a much greater
distance to traverse than they had anticipated. As they walked on,
they did not speak a word. But already they began to doubt whether
there was any hope left. They had been bitterly disappointed as they
came near and saw no sign of life. They had half expected to see some
figure on the beach waiting to receive them. But there was no figure
and no shout of joy.

At length, as they drew nearer to the east end, and the light grew
brighter, Bart, who was in advance, gave a shout.

They all hurried forward.

Bart was pointing towards something.

It was a signal-staff, with something that looked like a flag hoisted
half mast high.

Every heart beat faster, and at once the wildest hopes arose. They
hurried on over the rough beach as fast as possible. They clambered
over rocks, and sea-weed, and drift-wood, and at length reached the
bank. And still, as they drew nearer, the signal-staff rose before
them, and the flag at half mast became more and more visible.

Rushing up the bank towards this place, each trying to outstrip the
others, they hurried forward, full of hope now that some signs of Tom
might be here. At length they reached the place where Tom had been so
long, and here their steps were arrested by the scene before them.

On the point arose the signal-staff, with its heavy flag han