'Grigsby' is circling farther south. Evidently
Fernald thinks he came back too far on his wake."

Farther and farther south went the destroyer, still sweeping the sea with
her two searchlights.

Then Dave beheld, after minutes, another searchlight beam crossing the
others, and knew that Dan Dalzell, aboard the "Reed," was making anxious
quest for his floating chum.

Both craft, after the "Reed" had once come within a quarter of a mile,
began operating further away. There was nothing on the black, roaring
waters by which to locate the spot where the "Grigsby" had been when her
commander was hurled overboard.

Twenty minutes passed after the "Reed" had come up. There was more
talking with the blinkers between the two craft. The destroyers moved in
ever widening, and then contracting, circles, but not once did either
come near enough to pick up a glimpse of that one face that held
occasionally above the rolling waves.

After an hour of searching there was a sorrowful conference between the
officers directing the signals on the two destroyers. They decided that
every possible effort had been made, and that Lieutenant Commander Darrin
was surely lost.

Indeed, at about that time Dave, though he was too far away and dashed
with too much spray to read the signals, had about given up hope.

Chilled to the bone by the icy waters, he had at first striven to keep
himself warm by such exercise as he could apply. But now he was
weakening.

Had it not been for the unusual vigor of his constitution he would have
been dead by this time. It was now only a question of a little more time
when he must freeze to death.

"All right, Davy-boy," he reflected, almost drowsily. "While you were
alive you managed to do a few things! But poor Belle! I hope this isn't
going to upset her too much!"

Even the thought of his loved young wife did not stir him much, which
showed, indeed, that Darrin was near the end of his vital resources and
that he must soon give up his struggle.

After a while the instinct of desperation seized him. With a last
summoning of his strength he began fighting for his life.

"I won't freeze!" he cried, between grinding teeth. "I can keep moving a
good while yet. I won't allow myself to die here. That would be no better
than suicide!"

For a few minutes more he continued to use arms and feet in a determined
effort to warm his blood against the numbing cold.

"Ha, here comes one of the destroyers, right now