What do you think that means ?" Fritz was silent, only half convinced, for the send of the sea appeared to be rolling their unhappy boat further and further from the island, which, only a bare speck on the horizon, could be but very faintly seen astern, low down on the water.
"It means," said Eric, answering his own question, without waiting longer for his brother's reply, "that the same wind which bore us away from our dear little bay is about to waft us back again to it; still, we must look out sharply to help ourselves and not neglect a chance.

Oars out, old fellow!" "But, it is impossible to row amidst these waves," the other expostulated.
"Bah, nothing is impossible to brave men!" cried the sailor lad valiantly.

"I only want to get her head round to sea.

Perhaps, though, my old friend that served me in such good stead when the _Gustav Barentz_ foundered may serve my turn better now; we'll try a floating anchor, brother, that's what we'll do, eh ?" "All right, you know best," replied Fritz, who, to tell the truth, had very little hopes of their ever seeing the island again.

He thought that, no matter what Eric might attempt, all would be labour in vain.
The sailor lad, on the contrary, was of a different opinion.