He might log a man for mutiny and the
chap would be glad to run away from the vessel when he landed.
"It must be a tough life on those deep sea craft in spite of all the
fine stories we read. I don't want to go to sea."
"Right you are, Tom," cried Jack. "But look at the chap, he's headed
right in for us. I do believe he'll be on us in a minute."
"Sound the Klaxon a little," said Frank. "Maybe he'll sheer off. Why not
switch on the lights? He might see them."
Quickly this suggestion was followed. Not a moment too soon it seemed,
for the tug crew had evidently been watching the vessel they were towing
and had not noticed the Fortuna. A whirl of the spokes by the pilot
brought the tug on a course away from the motor boat, but the schooner
had headway enough so that she came right on. By the narrowest margin
she cleared the Fortuna.
The boys breathed easier as she slipped past them, her bulk looming
large beside the vessel they occupied.
"What was that?" asked Jack, holding up a hand for silence.
"I didn't hear anything," declared Tom. "What do you hear?"
"I thought I heard it, too," cried Frank. "The Bob White call."
"Where could it have come from? It must be that some of the men around
here use that whistle," Jack decided. "We've heard it before."
Although the boys discussed the matter thoroughly they could not decide
where the call could have been sent from and finally again composed
themselves for sleep, after extinguishing all but the riding or anchor
light gleaming at the head of their signal staff.
Pages:
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160