CHAPTER XXIV
"WE ARE LOST!"
There was little more sleep for any one that night. They sat up,talking over the wonderful and unexpected outcome of Tom Swift'swireless message, and speculating as to when the steamer would getthere.
"Bless my pocket comb! But I told you it would come out all right,if we left it to Tom!" declared Mr. Damon.
"But it hasn't come out yet," remarked the pessimistic scientist."The steamer may arrive too late."
"You're a cheerful sort of fellow to take on a yachting trip,"murmured Mr. Hosbrook, sarcastically. "I'll never invite you again,even if you are a great scientist."
"I'm going to sit and watch for the steamer," declared Mr. Damon, ashe went outside the shack. The night was warm, and there was a fullmoon. "Which way will she come from, Tom?"
"I don't know, but I should think, that if she was on her way north,from South America, she'd pass on the side of the island on which wenow are."
"That's right," agreed Captain Mentor. "She'll come up from overthere," and he pointed across the ocean directly in front of theshacks and camp.
"Then I'm going to see if I can't be the first to sight her lights,"declared Mr. Damon.
"She can't possibly get here inside of a day, according to what theoperator said," declared Tom.
"Wire them to put on all the speed they can," urged the eccentricman.
"No, don't waste any more power or energy than is needed," suggestedMr. Hosbrook. "You may need the gasolene before we are rescued. Theyare on their way, and that is enough for now."
The others agreed with this, and so Tom, after a final message tothe operator aboard the CAMBARANIAN stating that he would call himup in the morning, shut down the motor.
Mr. Damon took up his position where he could see far out over theocean, but, as the young inventor had said, there was no possiblechance of sighting the relief steamer inside of a day. Still thenervous, eccentric man declared that he would keep watch.
Morning came, and castaways brought to breakfast a better appetitethan they had had in some time. They were allowed larger rations,too, for it was seen that they would have just enough food to lastuntil taken off.
"We didn't need to have made the big raft," said Mr. Fenwick, as Tomcame down from his station, to report that he had been incommunication with the Camabarian and that she was proceeding underforced draught. "We'll not have to embark on it, and I'm glad ofit."
"Oh, we may need it yet," asserted Mr. Parker. "I have been makingsome observations just now, and the island is in a very precariousstate. It is, I believe, resting on only a slim foundation, and theleast shock may break that off, and send it into the sea. That iswhat my observations point out."
"Then I wish you wouldn't make any more observations!" exclaimedMrs. Nestor, with spirit. "You make me nervous."
"And me, also," added Mrs. Anderson.
"Science can not deceive, madam," retorted Mr. Parker.
"Well it can keep quiet about what it knows, and not make a personhave cold chills," replied Mary's mother. "I'm sure we will berescued in time."
There was a slight tremor of an earthquake, as they were eatingdinner that day, but, aside from causing a little alarm it did nodamage. In the afternoon, Tom again called up the approachingsteamer, and was informed that, because of a slight accident, itcould not arrive until the next morning. Every effort would be madeto keep up speed, it was said. There was much disappointment overthis, and Mr. Damon was observed to be closely examining the foodsupply, but hope was too strong to be easily shattered now.
Mr. Parker went off alone, to make some further "observations" as hecalled them, but Mr. Hosbrook warned him never again to speak of hisalarming theories.
Mr. Barcoe Jenks called Tom aside just before supper that evening.
"I haven't forgotten what I said to you about my diamonds," heremarked, with many nods and winks. "I'll show you how to make them,if you will help me. Did you ever see diamonds made?"
"No, and I guess very few persons have." replied the lad, thinkingperhaps Mr. Jenks might not be quite right, mentally.
The night passed without alarm, and in the morning, at the firstblush of dawn, every one was astir, looking eagerly across the seafor a sight of the steamer.
Tom had just come down from the wireless station, having received amessage to the effect that a few hours more would bring theCAMBARANIAN within sight of the island.
Suddenly there was a tremendous shock, as if some great cannon hadbeen fired, and the whole island shook to its very centre.
"Another earthquake! The worst yet!" screamed Mrs. Anderson.
"We are lost!" cried Mrs. Nestor, clinging to her husband.
An instant later they were all thrown down by the tremor of theearth, and Tom, looking toward his wireless station, saw nearly halfof the island disappear from sight. His station went down incollapse with it, splashing into the ocean, and the wave thatfollowed the terrible crash washed nearly to the castaways, as theyrose and kneeled on the sand.
"The island is sinking!" cried Mr. Parker. "Make for the raft!"
"I guess it's our only chance," murmured Captain Mentor, as he gazedacross the water. There was no steamer in sight. Could it arrive ontime? The tremors and shaking of the island continued.