But now, Jack was again pacing the deck, while Eph, his eyes mostly on
the compass, steered steadily by course.

Suddenly, Jack Benson started. Quickly he wiped the outer lenses of his
glass, then looked again.

"See anything?" demanded Eph.

"Yes, sirree! And the 'Thor' is almost a mile nearer than we are! It's
the derelict--not a doubt of it!"

Like a flash Jack sprang to the wheel, ringing the bell for full speed.

"Eph, hustle below! Tell Hal we've sighted the derelict. Tell him to
hump the engines. Tell him I don't care how much we overheat the
machinery so that we don't blow the craft up. Jump!"

Eph collided with Jacob Farnum, who had started up from below, but he
brushed the shipbuilder aside, rushing below as though death pursued him.




CHAPTER XVI

JACK GIVES THE ORDER, "FIRE!"


The naval officer, too, had made out a bobbing something on the sea,