"In any clear weather we can use the sails a good deal, and save oil at that, sir," suggested the young skipper.
However, they continued on through the fog the rest of that afternoon, and through the night, without discovering a sign of any other craft. The loneliness of that great ocean about them began to get somewhat on the nerves of some of the passengers. Gaston Giddings, suffering infernal tortures for want of the drug to which he had become such a pitiful slave, kept to the cabin.
Through the long night the "Panther" kept plodding on her way, rolling a good deal in the sea. Tom spent much of his time on the bridge with the watch officer. So morning came around again, and it was Third Mate Costigan's deck watch.
Tom, who had been below in his cabin for the last three hours, came on deck again at about nine in the morning. Somehow, he could not sleep. The sense of failure preyed upon his nerves.
For some minutes Captain Tom stood at the bridge rail, one hand at his ear. He was trying to catch even the faintest sound of another foghorn than the "Panther's."
"Did you hear that, Mr. Costigan?" he demanded.
"Then keep perfectly quiet, and listen hard."
Within two minutes both officers were sure they heard a fog-horn.
"But it's the fog-horn of a sailing vessel," muttered Tom, disappointedly.
"Coming this way, too, sir," replied Mr. Costigan.
"The people on the 'Victor' wouldn't hesitate to use a sailing vessel's signals in order to fool us," muttered Halstead.
"Shall I pass well to starboard of the sailing craft, sir?" asked the third officer.
"No; get in her path. When we're near enough, signal that we want to speak the other vessel," Halstead answered.
Within seven or eight minutes the "Panther" was signaling the other craft by sound for the desired marine interview. The "all right" signal came back. Then the two vessels were cautiously manoeuvred to meet each other without collision.
At last a big bowsprit loomed up out of the white gloom, close at hand.
"Put your helm hard-a-starboard!" roared Mr. Costigan through the wheel house speaking-tube. Then, after some further manoeuvring, during which the "Panther's" propellers reversed, the two craft lay hazily in sight of each other.