Yard pointed, to a dark mass some distance away.

"That is a raft covered with people," said he.

"They seem to be standing still."

"Yes, they merely want to keep afloat until morning, when no doubt they
will be picked up and cared for. Keep quiet, for if we talk too loud
some one may start for us."

"And work hard," whispered Tim, struggling harder than ever. "Aich of
yees shove like a locomotive."

"Good advice," added Mr. Yard, in the same cautions undertone. "Let's
get away as fast as possible."

Hour after hour the men toiled, following the moon, that appeared to
recede from them as they advanced. They had passed safely the debris of
the wrecked steamer, and were again talking loudly and rather
cheerfully, when Tim O'Rooney interrupted them:

"Yonder is something flowting in the darkness."

"It is a boat full of people," said Mr. Yard. "I have noticed it for the
last few minutes."

All turned their eyes toward the spot indicated, and agreed that Mr.
Yard was correct in his supposition.

"I will hail it," he quietly added, and then called out: "Boat ahoy!"

"What do you want?" came back in a gruff voice.

"Can you take four drowning passengers on board?"

"Not much," was the unfeeling answer, "Paddle away and you'll reach
California one of these days."

"How far are we from it?"

"Double the distance, divide by two, and you'll have it."

Nothing further was extracted from the men, but they could be heard
laughing and talking boisterously with each other, and the odor of their
pipes was plainly detected, so close were the parties.

"Thank heaven, we are not dependent upon them!" said Mr. Yard. "If we
were, we should fare cruelly indeed."

"Who are they?"

"A part of the crew of the steamer, who seized the boat at the first
appearance of danger, and left the helpless to perish."

An hour later, long after the boat had disappeared, and when our friends
were toiling bravely forward, a low, dark object directly in front
attracted their notice.

"What is it?" whispered Elwood.

"_It is land!_" was the joyful reply. "I am walking upon the sand this
minute, and you can do the same!"

CHAPTER VI.

THE CALIFORNIA COAST.

They were safe at last! The four dropped their feet and found them
resting upon smooth packed sand, and wading a few rods they all stood
upon dry earth. Terror, as he shook his shaggy coat and rubbed his nose
against his young masters seemed not the least joyful of