"Yah, I dink dot," answered Hans Mueller. "Und I dink Tom he falls ofer also alretty!"
"Hullo, there!" cried Dick. "Is that you, Sam?"
"Who calls?" came the answering query.
"It is I, Dick Rover!"
"Dick!" came from Sam and Hans.
"Where are you?"
"This way!" called Sam, and kept on calling until Dick drew closer and at last made out his brother and the German boy clinging to another crate.
"This is lucky—as far as it goes," said Sam.
"Are you hurt?"
"Not at all. And you?"
"I got a scratch on my wrist, that is all, and Hans says he twisted his left ankle a little. But we are glad we weren't drowned."
"What of the others?"
"I am almost sure Tom went overboard. I think the others remained on the steamer."
"Was she sinking?"
"I think she was. I heard somebody say there was a big hole stove in her near the port bow."
After that the three youths pulled the two crates together. A grass rope was fastened to one of the affairs and they used this in joining the two, and then the castaways made themselves
