“I don’t expect to suffer from hunger or cold, or anything else but impatience at being in such a desolate place while that villain is conveying my mother away from me.” “You ought to be old enough to do without your mother,” added the captain rather coarsely, “I was ordered to remain on this coast by Captain Ringgold until he came himself in a steamer. Do you know when he will be here, Mr. Belgrave?” “He did not know himself, and therefore he could not tell me.” “I doubt if any vessel will come into this bay in the next month. All we can do is to make the best of our situation. I suppose we might make a signal that would attract the attention of some vessel outside that would take us off.” “You can do that if you wish, Captain Brisbane, but I shall remain here till Captain Ringgold takes me off,” replied Louis decidedly. “He may not come for a week,” suggested the captain. “Perhaps not; in that case I shall remain here a week.” “You are not sure that Captain Ringgold will find you here.” “I shall wait and see if he don’t, at any rate.” The captain took the spy-glass, and directed it out at sea. “There are two schooners coming up from the southward,” said he, still pointing the glass. “Let them come,” added Louis. “As I said, Captain Ringgold may not come here for a week: I don’t feel as though I ought to keep my men here on this sandbank any longer than is absolutely necessary,” added the captain, calling his mate to him. “Of course you will do what you think best, Captain Brisbane,” replied Louis coldly. The captain instructed the mate to rig a signal, and set it on the highest point of land in the vicinity. The order was executed at once; and the signal floated in the air till nearly sundown, when it attracted the attention of a tug-boat headed to the northward, which came within half a mile of the shore. The little steamer, which had been towing a vessel down to Barnegat Inlet, ran her nose into the sandbank and hailed the party. He proved to be a friend of Captain Brisbane, and was all ready to take him and his ship’s company to New York, with all they had saved from the wreck. “I don’t like to leave you here, Mr. Belgrave, but if you insist upon remaining, I can’t help myself,” said the captain, when all but him had gone on board of the tug. “Don’t disturb yourself about me, Captain Brisbane,” replied Louis very stiffly. “Very well, young man. Come along, Bickling!” added the captain. “Which I don’t leave the young gentleman, sir,” replied the cook. The remainder of the party hastened on board of the Rocket; and she steamed away, leaving Louis and the cook on the sandbank. CHAPTER XXX A HUNGRY MILLIONAIRE