Outside
they could hear Blowitz pacing up and down on the rocky shore.
"Well, what do you fellows say?" he asked.
"I'd like the trip," said Ned, wistfully.
"The money is a large sum," added Bob.
"Then you want to go?" asked Jerry. "I'll do just what ever you do.
I'll tell him we'll go."
"No! Don't!" cried Nellie in a tense whisper. "Jerry-- boys-- don't
have anything to do with this man. He may be all right, but there's
something mysterious about him. Why should he want to hire you when,
for the same money, or less, he could get a company of fishermen, who
know these waters well, to make the search? Take a girl's reason, for
once, and don't have anything to do with him!"
She had risen to her feet, her eyes were flashing and her cheeks
flushed with the excitement of the moment. The boys looked at her in
admiration.
"I admit there is something queer in his offering to increase the
prize money," spoke Jerry, after a pause. "He must be very desperate."
"And why this sudden rush?" inquired Ned. "This afternoon he was in no
such hurry. Something must have occurred in the meanwhile-- I wonder
if it was the man on the cliff--"
"Now don't let's go to guessing at too much," cautioned Jerry. "The
question to be settled now is: Do you want to go on a search for the
derelict brig? Yes or no? That's what we've got to settle now."
There was silence for a moment, broken only by the tick of the clock
in the cabin. Involuntarily Nellie glanced at it.
Pages:
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124