"They took to the boats," replied Mrs. Johnson. "My little girl and myself were to go with the mate and his men. The waves were fearfully high, and, as they held the boat close to the schooner so we could get in, a big roller smashed the little craft. The men must have all been drowned for I never afterwards caught sight of one of them." "But the other boats?" asked the inventor. "They had gotten too far away to hail, supposing that I would be taken care of by the mate. There was nothing for Nellie and I to do but stay on board, expecting the ship to sink every minute." "And you have been there ever since?" inquired Andy. "Ever since. That was ten days ago. Every day I thought it would be our last. The storm passed away and the sea became calm but the ship kept settling lower and lower. Only the fact that part of the cargo was wood kept her afloat so long. I managed to get some provisions and water up on deck, but the sea had spoiled most of the stuff. We had to eat only a little at a time, as I knew it would be some days before we could be rescued, if we ever were. Two days ago we ate the last of the food and drank almost the last of the water." "Then you had nothing since then," spoke Jack. "Only a few drops of rain that I caught on a piece of sail," answered Mrs. Johnson. "Never mind, you can have all you want now, mother," said Nellie, coming over to pat her parent's cheek. "Oh," the child went on, "I was so thirsty I could just cry when I thought of such things as ice cream sodas." "I guess you could," agreed Mark. "Well, we can't give you any soda water, but we have plenty of the other kind." Mrs. Johnson was much interested in the _Porpoise_ and Professor Henderson showed her all about the craft. Though the quarters were rather cramped, a small cabin was fitted up for the lady and her daughter. "We will travel a bit under the water so you can get used to it," said the captain after a tour of the ship had been made. The tanks were filled, and the _Porpoise_ sank beneath the waves. At first Mrs. Johnson was much frightened, and Nellie cried. But when they saw how skillfully the ship was managed, and how easy it was to rise again, they lost their fears. For several days the voyage was continued. Mrs. Johnson and Nellie remained aboard as there was no place to land them, and they said they wished to stay until they met some ship sailing north. One day, just at dusk, when the _Porpoise_, after a long run under the water had come to the surface, the professor, came up on deck to take a look around. Washington and Andy accompanied him. "Looks like land, off there to the left," remarked the old hunter. "Get the glasses, Washington," said Mr. Henderson. "It may be a ship." He took a long and careful look through the binoculars.