But more than once as they drank of the water, and nibbled the hard biscuits, or crackers, in the water-tight box, Russ and his companion blessed the forethought of honest Jack Jepson--I beg his pardon, Captain Jepson it was now, though neither Russ nor Mr. Sneed knew that. "I think I'll hoist a signal," said the actor, as they drove on, now seeing the steamer, and again losing her. "Good idea," Russ agreed, as he busied himself with an oil can. Mr. Sneed managed to lash an oar upright, and on it he fastened a bit of canvas. It stood out straight, like a board, so strong was the wind that whipped it. "I hope they see that," commented the actor. "I hope so, too," added Russ. "It doesn't do any good to yell, for the wind is blowing from them to us." More than once, as they urged their craft on a long slant toward the steamer, they almost gave up hope. But it sprang up again, and finally, as a break in the clouds let out a little rift of light, someone on the watch aboard the steamer saw the fluttering signal. "She's seen us! She's seen us!" cried Russ in delight. "How can you tell?" demanded his companion. "She whistled. I saw the steam. You'll hear the blast in a second." And they did. Light travels faster than sound. They saw the steam from the powerful whistle before they heard the hoarse blast; even as one sees the flash of a gun before hearing the report. The steamer changed her course, and came on toward the motorboat. "Suppose it's the English one, that wants to capture poor Jack," suggested Mr. Sneed. "That doesn't make any difference," Russ said. "She'll save us, and then look for the schooner. We can take up Jack's case later." It did not prove to be the English steamer. Instead it was a powerful fruiter, hailing from New York, and Russ and Mr. Sneed were soon aboard, the _Ajax_ being hoisted to her deck. Then she resumed her course, but it was a different one. For, on the earnest plea of Russ and Mr. Sneed, the steamer's captain consented to turn back and search for the _Mary Ellen_. "I don't know as I'll find her," he said, "but we can't let all those poor souls perish." So the search began. It lasted three days, during which the storm nearly blew itself out. And on the morning of the fourth day, when the sullen sea was trying to calm itself, and when the wind had died down to a moderate gale, the lookout of the _Sirius_ called out: "Sail ho!" "Where away?" came the demand. "Dead ahead. She's a schooner, low in the water, and she's flying a signal of distress!" CHAPTER XXV CLEAR SKIES Instantly there was commotion and excitement on board the _Sirius_, for Russ and Mr. Sneed had told their story of the starting out to make a pictured shipwreck, which shipwreck had evidently, now, become real. "That's the _Mary Ellen_, I'm sure of it!" Russ cried as he caught a glimpse of the sighted schooner. "But what has happened to her?"