Inside Deliverance Bay the sea dropped quickly, and with daybreak the rollers ceased to sweep onto Rock Castle beach.

 

            The whole family left the enclosure and turned their eyes out to the open sea.

 

            "Let us go to Shark's Island," was Fritz's immediate suggestion. "There is no risk for the canoe."

 

            "What will you do there?" Mme. Zermatt asked.

 

            "Perhaps the ship is still lying up under shelter of the coast; and even supposing it was compelled by the storm to stand out to sea, may it not have come back again? Let us fire a few guns, and if they are answered—"

 

            "Yes, Fritz, yes!" cried Jenny eagerly.

 

            "Fritz is right," said M. Zermatt. "We must not neglect any chance. If the ship is there she will hear us and make herself heard."

 

            The canoe was ready in a few minutes. But as Fritz was about to take his seat in it M. Zermatt advised him to remain at Rock Castle with his mother, his brothers, and Jenny. Jack would accompany his father. They would take a flag in order to indicate whether there was any good news or whether any danger threatened them. In the latter case M. Zermatt would wave the flag three times and then throw it into the sea, and Fritz was at once to take the whole family to Falconhurst. M. Zermatt and Jack would join them there as speedily as possible, and if necessary they would then take refuge at Wood Grange or Sugar-cane Grove, or even at the hermitage at Eberfurt. On the other hand, if M. Zermatt waved his flag twice and then planted it near the battery, that would signify that there was no ground for anxiety, and Fritz would await his return at Rock Castle.

 

            Jack had brought the canoe to the foot of the rocks. He and his father stepped into it. A few cables' length outside the creek the heavy swell had given place to a slightly choppy sea. Driven by its paddles the boat sped rapidly towards Shark's Island.

 

            M. Zermatt's heart beat fast when he drew alongside the end of the island; and it was at the top of their speed that he and Jack climbed the little hill.

 

            Outside the hangar they stopped. From that point their eyes swept the wide horizon between the eastern cape and False Hope Point.

 

            Not a sail was to be seen upon the sea, which was still rolling heavily far out.

 

            Just as they were about to go inside the hangar M. Zermatt said for the last time to Jack:

 

            "You are quite sure you heard—"

 

            "Absolutely positive," Jack answered. "They really were reports that came from the eastward."

 

            "God grant it!" said M. Zermatt.

 

            As the guns had been reloaded by Fritz they only needed to have the match applied.

 

            "Jack," said M. Zermatt, "you are to fire two shots at an interval of two minutes, and then you will reload the first gun and fire a third time."

 

            "Very well, papa," Jack replied; "and you?"

 

            "I am going to station myself at the edge of the plateau that faces east, and if a report comes from that side I shall be in a good place to hear it."

 

            As the wind had changed to the north, although it was very faint, the conditions were favourable. Any reports of heavy runs coming either from the west or the east must be heard easily, provided the distance were not more than three or four miles.

 

            M. Zermatt took up his position by the side of the hangar.

 

            Jack fired three guns from the battery at the intervals arranged. Then he ran at once to his father's side, and both stayed motionless, their ears strained towards the east.

 

            A first report came distinctly to Shark's Island.

 

            "Papa!" cried Jack, "the ship is still there!"

 

            "Listen!" M. Zermatt rejoined.

 

            Six other reports, at regular intervals, followed the first. The ship was not only answering, but seeming to say that things must not remain as they were.

 

            M. Zermatt waved his flag and planted it near the battery.

 

            If the reports of the ship's guns had not reached Rock Castle, at all events the people there would know that there was no danger to be feared.

 

            And half an hour later, when the canoe had reached the creek again, Jack called out:

 

            "Seven guns! They fired seven guns!"

 

            "May heaven be praised sevenfold!" was Frank's reply.

 

            Deeply moved, Jenny seized Fritz's hand. Then she flung herself into the arms of Mme. Zermatt, who wiped away her tears and kissed her.

 

            There was no doubt now about the presence of the ship. For some reason or another it must be lying up in one of the bays along the eastern coast. Possibly it had not been obliged to leave the bay during the storm; now, it would not leave without having got into direct communication with the inhabitants of this unknown land, and perhaps the best course would be to wait until it came in sight of the bay.

 

            "No, let us go, let us go!" Jack insisted. "Let us go at once!"

 

            But the cautious Ernest suggested some considerations of which M.