can hope that it isn't so."

But for Merriwell, Hodge would have been very despondent, especially as
the long hours of the afternoon began to wear on and no boat came near
them, and their frequent cries seemed to remain unheard; but Frank's
hopefulness and cheerful optimism were not without good effect on the
mind of his friend, and they were even able at times to talk with some
degree of mental comfort.

Frank was sure that they were steadily drifting out to sea. He believed,
from the change in the apparent direction of the fog-siren, that they
were moving down the coast toward Sandy Hook. But they were evidently
floating farther out to sea, for the sounds of the siren were fainter
and farther away.

"I believe the fog is going to lighten."

Merriwell lifted himself and strained his eyes through the gloom. A
suggestion of a breeze had fanned him.

"If the wind gets up, the fog may be driven away," he said.

"And the wind will kick up a sea!" suggested Bart.

"But if the fog lifts, we will probably be seen by some vessel!"

There could be no doubt that a gentle breeze was beginning to blow.

"Sure enough, the fog is thinning!" Bart cried joyfully. "But I don't
hear any more whistles."

"Hark! there one sounded."

"Miles away!"

"Wait till the fog rises. Perhaps there are others."

Anxiously they watched the gray wall. The wind died away, and once or
twice it seemed that the fog was growing denser, instead of lightening.
But by and by the sunlight seemed to permeate it. It appeared to become
thinner. Then, like a great curtain uplifted, it for a little while
swung upward from the face of the heaving sea. All around were the green
rollers, rising and falling with an oily swell.

Hodge uttered an exclamation of gratification.

"Look!"

Merriwell looked in the direction indicated. Not a fourth of a mile away
a dingy fishing-sloop was bobbing along, with her dirty mainsail and jib
set, yet seeming to catch no breeze. Both Merry and Hodge forgot their
discomfort, forgot their chilled and benumbed condition, and, lifting
themselves as high as they could, shouted for assistance.

There must have been some breeze in the dingy sails, for the vessel was
moving athwart the line of their progress, and they were being carried
along by the tide.

"Shout again!" said Merriwell, and again they lifted their voices
together.

In another direction a steamer could be seen, but those on the steamer
evidently did not