Billy appeared to be highly amused, for he chuckled to himself for several minutes while picturing the disappointment of the baffled plotters. Then once more he settled down to his task of serving as "officer of the watch."
As the minutes crept on, Billy began to observe the gradual approach of the star to the vague region where sea and heavens merged in one. In fact, Billy was yawning quite frequently now. He found himself fairly comfortable, thanks to the warmth of that leather fleece-lined jacket, and the hood which he had drawn partly over his head. Still, it was not very delightful, sitting there on the water; and perhaps the boy's thoughts frequently turned toward the bed he was missing.
"I wonder which way we're drifting now?" he suddenly asked himself; he immediately set to work trying to answer his question by observing the direction of the tide, as well as by the light current of air.
When next he thought to turn his head so as to glance backward, Billy received a bit of a shock. A sort of thin haze had settled down on the water by now, but through this he had discovered two moving lights. They looked very queer as seen in that foggy atmosphere; but Billy was smart enough to know what they stood for.
He immediately awoke Frank, whispering the astonishing news in his ear.
"They're looking for us, and they've got lanterns, Frank!" was what the one on guard said in a low tone as he pulled his chum's sleeve.
Frank was wide-awake instantly, and one quick glance showed him the approaching peril.
"Yes, you're right about it, Billy," he observed cautiously, and if there was a little quiver to his voice that was no more than might be expected under the exciting conditions by which they were surrounded.
"How queer the lights look swinging along close to the water, and in that fog, too. They are heading out this way, I'm afraid, Frank."
"Hadn't we better get under way, then?" continued the nervous one.
"No hurry," Frank told him. "They may happen to swing around one way or the other and miss us. We'll wait and find out. You know we can get moving with a second's warning. Now let's watch and see what happens."
Billy could be heard sighing every now and then. Doubtless, as he sat there with his head turned halfway around, observing the creeping movements of those two strange lights through the fog that hugged the surface of the water, he was thinking it the most exciting moment of his whole career.