When the sun grew higher it became very warm, so that the rowers were glad enough to lay aside their jackets. By noon they reckoned that they had covered six or eight miles. One after another stood up on the seats to take a look around. "Nothing in sight yet," said Dick, with a sorry shake of his head. "We must have been mistaken in that dark spot." "What will you do now?" asked Grace. "The hot sun is beginning to make my head ache." Sam's head also ached, but he said nothing. Nobody knew what to suggest. "One thing is certain; we can't remain out on the bosom of the ocean," said Dick. "Better continue to pull southward," came from old Jerry. "There are lots of islands down that way. The map is full of 'em." "Yes, the map is full of them," answered Dick. "But a quarter of an inch on the map means a hundred miles or two in reality." Yet it was decided to row on, trusting to luck to strike some island, either large or small. It was now fiercely hot, and all hands perspired freely. By the end of the afternoon the boys were worn out, and had to give up rowing. The girls were dozing in the stern, having covered their heads with a thin shawl, stretched from one gunwale to another. Tom and Sam were dizzy from the glare of the sun on the water. "Another day like this will set me crazy," said the youngest Rover. "I'd give ten dollars for a pair of blue goggles." Old Jerry had been looking intently to the westward. Now he pointed in that direction. "See that trail of smoke," he said. "Unless I am mistaken a steamship is sailing toward us!" "A steamship!" cried Tom, and the words awoke the girls. "We must hail the vessel by all means." "If she comes close enough," said Captain Jerry pointedly. "Don't be too hopeful, my lads. She may pass us by." CHAPTER XIII THE CRUSOES OF SEVEN ISLANDS All on board of the rowboat watched the thin trail of smoke with interest. "I believe it is going away from us," said Dora. "No, it is coming closer," said Nellie. "It is certainly moving to the northward," put in Sam. A quarter of an hour went by and the smoke came only a little nearer. "She is a big steamer," said Captain Jerry. "But she aint comin' jest this way." "You are sure?" cried Tom. "Yes, lad. It's too bad, but it can't be helped." The old sailor was right; half an hour later the smoke had shifted, and after that it faded gradually from sight. It was a heavy blow, after their expectations had been raised so high, and tears stood in the eyes of all of the girls, while the boys looked unusually sober. What was to do next? All asked that question, yet it was only Captain Jerry who answered it. "Let us pull southward," said he. And they did so, although with hearts that were as heavy as lead in their bosoms.