ance was so short that the girl was at their side a second or
two later. She was laughing, and uttering something in her excitement,
which, until that moment, they did not understand.

"Who ever saw any one so stupid?" she called out, cheerily. "What are
your eyes for? Why don't you look out to sea?"

The two obeyed, and an exclamation of amazement escaped both, for
there, while they had lain on the beach talking in such disconsolate
tones, and looking dreamily out upon the ocean, a craft had been
steadily approaching, and neither of the two saw it.

At the furthest, it was no more than a mile distant, and, since it was
heading straight in toward the atoll, the chances were a hundred to
one that the signal of distress had been seen, and the lonely island
at last was going to have a visitor.

Captain Bergen muttered something about the "great horn spoon," under
his breath, while Storms said nothing, but gazed steadily at the
craft, upon which his hopes were so suddenly and strongly fixed. It
might be that the hearts of all three bounded with hope at this sight
of a vessel, but the hope was mixed with apprehension, for the sailors
saw it was not the sort of vessel for which they had been praying so
long.

Instead of a gallant ship, with the Stars and Stripes streaming from
the fore, it was what is termed a flying proa, which is the name
applied to the narrow canoes used principally in the Ladrone Islands.
They are about thirty feet long, three feet wide, and are steered by a
paddle at either end. The sail is lateen, with a boom upon one mast;
the prow and stern curve to a high point, and the depth being
considerably greater than the width, the proa would, if unsupported,
capsize instantly, but a hollow log or heavy-pointed spar rests on the
water, parallel with the windward side, and, being secured in place,
acts as an outrigger and removes the danger of overturning. The same
name is applied to the boats used by the Malays, and which are
propelled by both oars and sails.

But the one which greeted the astonished eyes of Storms and Bergen had
its huge lateen sail spread, and was moving with great velocity, for
the proas of the Indian and Pacific oceans are probably the fastest
boats in the world. It rode the waters like a bird, and would soon
enter the lagoon within the island, for there could be no doubt that
the men on board had seen not only the signal, but the persons
themselves who were waiting for them.

Ina