The flag was hoisted, the whole party watching anxiously. The sun shone brightly on the white canvas of a full-rigged ship, which was coming bows on towards them. At the door of the rude cabin Isabel sat, her hand clasped in that of her lover-husband, her head resting on his shoulder, and her eyes intently fixed on the ship. "How beautiful she looks as she heels over to the breeze," she murmured. "Surely, they see us now." "The ship is more than ten knots away," replied Captain Weber, "and if even the look-out saw us, and most probably there is none, we should only be taken for a gull or albatross." "Could we not make them hear us?" asked Isabel. "Impossible," replied the master; "but we will try. Now my lads, a good hearty cheer," he shouted. "Hip! hip! hurrah! One cheer more; fancy yourselves at the Jolly Tar in Portsmouth Harbour. Hooray! Why, I have heard you make twice the row when I wanted you to knock off shouting," he said, as the cheer died away. In point of fact, the crew seemed too idle even to exert themselves for their own safety. "See," said Isabel, "see, they hear us!" and she clasped her hands together as she spoke with delight. Captain Weber and his mate knew better. There were, indeed, indications of a bustle on board the ship. The sun was shining brightly full on her white canvas, and even the dark mass of her hull could be made out, as she came careering through the waves, with all sail set to her royals on a taut bowline. Then her sails shivered, the black bows came sweeping up to the wind, the yards were braced round, as the ship, now on the opposite tack, every moment lessened the chance of those on board the doomed raft. "One effort more, my lads; stay a moment, they'll be coiling down the sheets and bowlines just now. Are you ready? `Ship, ahoy! ahoy! aho-o-o-y!'" roared the captain with all the force of his powerful lungs, producing a shout, with which the voices of all on board joined, even the feeble treble of Isabel being heard. It was useless; the ship neither heard nor saw them, but kept calmly and steadily on her course, leaving them to their fate. Towards sunset her royals only could be seen on the horizon, and when the stars shone forth, the raft was once more rising and falling in helpless loneliness on the waves of the sleeping ocean, slowly dragging on her way. Isabel had retired, and cried herself to sleep. Hughes had thrown himself, as was his wont, before the opening of the cabin, and was quite motionless. Near him lay several recumbent forms wrapped in cloaks or tarpaulins, while the men, grouped together, were, or seemed to be, sleeping. He had bitterly felt the cruel disappointment of the morning, and, though it was nearly midnight, was in reality wide awake. A low confused murmur reached him, and he listened attentively. "I tell you he has all the gold aboard, Phillips; enough to make men of the likes of we," were the words which came to his ears.