_JACOB'S YARN_
"I shall be glad when we have done messing about here and set to work.
We look like making a long trip; at this rate, we shall not be back at
Fremantle under a twelve month," grumbled Phil.
"I'm tired of doing nothing," replied Jack, "and this is a slow way of
making a fortune. We ought to be somewhere near the place by now."
"We may have slipped past it," replied Phil.
"And have to return," said Jack in dismay. "That will be shocking bad
luck."
Another three days passed, and they seemed as far off their journey's
end as ever, until next morning one of the men shouted out that there
was a signal on a promontory jutting out into the sea.
They rushed to the fore part of the schooner, and looked eagerly at the
spot. The man was right; there was a long pole with something waving at
the top, evidently a signal to passing vessels.
"It may be a very old one," said Phil.
"Perhaps it is Jacob Rank's signal," replied Jack.
"Let us hope so; anyway, we will make for it. I wonder if they have seen
it on board the 'Wild Cat?'"
The other schooner was some distance behind, and as Jack looked through
his glasses he saw no sign of excitement on board.
"I do not think they have," he said, "but in any case they will follow
in our track."
The "Heron" headed for the rock on which the signal was fixed, and as
they drew near it they saw it was a projection of one side of the heads
of a bay.