Part 24 (1/2)

”I think we are about here,” said d.i.c.k, when all came together in the cabin, and he traced a circle on the chart with a lead pencil.

”Now if that is so, then we'll have to steer directly southeast to reach Tampa Bay.”

”Hurrah for Captain d.i.c.k!” cried Tom. ”d.i.c.k, you get your diploma as soon as we land.”

”Well, isn't that right?”

”It certainly is according to the map,” answered Sam.

”So all you and Tom have got to do is to furnish the power--and not blow us up--and then you get your diplomas too.”

”Vot do I got?” asked Hans.

”Oh, you get a big Limburger cheese,” cried Tom.

”Vell, dot's putty goot too,” answered the youth of Teutonic extraction.

”We'll arrange it this way,” said d.i.c.k. ”Tom can be engineer, Sam fireman, myself pilot, and Hans can be admiral and crew combined.”

”Vot does dot crew to?” asked Hans, eagerly.

”Oh, the crew swabs the deck and keelhauls the anchor,” answered Tom.

”In between times you thread the yardarm, too.”

”Vell, den I vill haf mine hands full, ain't it!”

”You eat so much you ought to do some work,” said Sam. ”If you don't work you'll get as fat as a barrel.”

With the coming of night our young friends looked to the lanterns of the steam yacht and refilled those which were empty at an oil barrel stored in the bow of the craft. Then they lit up, and also lit up the cabin.

”I think we may as well cook ourselves a real dinner for this evening,”

said d.i.c.k. ”No makes.h.i.+ft affair either.”

All were willing, and an hour and a half later they sat down to the table and ate as good a meal as the stores of the steam yacht afforded.

Evidently the craft belonged to some person of good taste, for the eatables were of the very best.

”There, that puts new life into a fellow!” declared d.i.c.k, after the repast was over. ”If I only knew what had become of the _Mascotte_ and the other fellows--knew that our friends were safe--I'd feel quite happy.”

”Oh, don't speak of the _Mascotte_!” answered Sam, with a s.h.i.+ver. ”I can't bear to think that Fred and Songbird have been drowned!”

”Let us hope for the best,” said Tom, with a sigh. And for the moment all traces of fun disappeared from his countenance.

Thinking it might be a good plan to cast anchor over night, they attempted to do so. But although they let out all the rope and chain, no bottom could be found.

”The water is certainly deep here,” said d.i.c.k, after the anchor had been brought up again. ”I don't think there is any danger of striking rocks.”

”Not unless the steam yacht sinks a mile or two,” said Tom, with a grin.

It was decided that one person should remain on watch during the night, to report any vessel that might pa.s.s and to watch the fire under the boiler. d.i.c.k said he would stay up, and Tom told his brother to call him at two in the morning.