De Vere told them. So when it got dark, and lights were
set aglow in the cozy cabin, it was with light hearts that the boys
and their friends gathered around the supper table, Bob had prepared a
good meal, and they enjoyed it very much.
They took turns at the night watches, the boat continuing to steam on
ahead, and the person on the lookout taking occasional observations of
the dark horizon through powerful night glasses.
Morning found them upon a waste of waters, out of sight of land, and
with not a sail in view.
"Say, but it's lonesome," remarked Bob when he went to the galley to
get breakfast. "What a big place the ocean is."
"I suppose you expected to find a lot of excursion boats out here,"
remarked Jerry.
"I did not!" exclaimed Bob. "But I thought we might see a ship or
two."
For two days they cruised about, moving in great circles and keeping a
sharp watch for any sight of the derelict. Several times one of the
boys, after peering through the glasses, would call that they had
sighted her, and the motor boat would be rushed in that direction.
But, each time, it only resulted in disappointment for what they saw
turned out to be only a bit of wreckage, a big dead fish, or some
floating box or barrel, thrown overboard from some ship.
"It looks as if our search was going to be longer than I at first
thought," said Mr. De Vere on the fifth day. "It is a good thing we
are well provisioned and have plenty of gasolene."
"Yes, we could stay out for three weeks if necessary," replied Jerry.
Pages:
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146