It was quite true that in the direction indicated by Flaypole there was a white speck visible upon the horizon.

But did it move?
Would the sailors with their keen vision pronounce it to be a sail?
A silence the most profound fell upon us all.

I glanced at Curtis as he stood with folded arms intently gazing at the distant point.

His brow was furrowed, and he contracted every feature, as with half-closed eyes, he concentrated his power of vision upon that one faint spot in the far-off horizon.
But at length he dropped his arms and shook his head.

I looked again, but the spot was no longer there.