The wind was still behind them, and a brisk sea was running of a deep rich green colour, with long creamy curling caps to the larger waves.

The breeze would catch these foam-crests from time to time, and then there would be a sharp spatter upon the decks, with a salt smack upon the lips, and a pringling in the eyes.

Suddenly as he gazed, however, something black was tilted up upon the sharp summit of one of the seas, and swooped out of view again upon the further side.

It was so far from him that he could make nothing of it, but sharper eyes than his had caught a glance of it.

Amos Green had seen the girl point and observed what it was which had attracted her attention.
"Captain Ephraim," cried he, "there's a boat on the starboard quarter." The New England seaman whipped up his glass and steadied it upon the bulwark.
"Ay, it's a boat," said he, "but an empty one.