Frank was lost in wonder and admiration as the boys showed him about the
Fortuna. He exclaimed over the conveniences and went into raptures over
the kitchenette and washroom.
"We cooked on a furnace on the Spray," he said regretfully. "Here you've
the gasoline and electric coils. Electric lights and electric stoves and
electric starter on the engines. It is fine!"
"What's a furnace?" inquired Arnold eagerly.
"It's a sort of a bucket made of fire clay," answered Frank. "It has a
division about half way down. Charcoal is put in on top and lighted and
the draft comes up through a hole in the side. The natives and negroes
down here use them quite extensively. They don't like iron stoves and
ranges because they don't know how to use them."
"Let's see if Wyckoff is keeping up his campfire," suggested Harry.
"I'll wager he's too excited to even think about supper."
When the boys reached the deck they saw Wyckoff capering and dancing
about on the beach wildly. He was waving his arms in an evident effort
to attract attention. A schooner was approaching from the west.
"Yacht aho-o-oy!" came a faint hail across the water.
Jack at the wheel held a steady course and reached a hand toward the
switchboard. His lips were tightly closed. Again the hail came across
the tumbling waters, but no reply was made.
A shot rang out from the schooner. The boys could see the bullet
ricochet from wave to wave and pass in front of the Fortuna.
Another shot was fired.
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