He could not be sure.
Minutes that seemed like hours passed.

Then suddenly his hoarse shout rose out of the silence: "Land ho!" Down into the heart of the ship boomed the cry, taken from the lookout's lips by one after another of the weary men below.

The sweating, exhausted toilers who manned the pumps paused for a moment, then fell to work again revitalized.

Out from the cabins, up from every nook and corner of the ship scrambled the excited horde, fully dressed, their faces haggard with doubt, their eyes aglow with joy.

Land! In every round little window gleamed a face,--for a moment only along the portside.