Part 31 (1/2)
”I don't see anybody,” declared Dan Baxter. ”Say, do you know what I think?” he cried suddenly. ”I think these fellows are all alone!”
”Humph!” muttered Sack Todd. ”If they are--” He did not finish, but smiled quietly to himself.
”Where can we get something to eat?” demanded the first mate, after a rather awkward pause.
”In the galley or the cabin, as you please,” said d.i.c.k. ”But you will have to prepare it yourselves. We have no cook on board.”
”Oh, that's it, eh? Well, Guirk can cook pretty good and he can do the trick for us, eh, Guirk?”
”Aye, aye!” answered one of the sailors. ”Just show me the victuals an' the stove, an' I'll be after doing the rest in jig time. I'm hungry enough to eat 'most anything.”
d.i.c.k led the way to the galley and the crowd from the small boat followed; one sailor stopping long enough to tie the rowboat astern.
”n.o.body else on board, eh?” said Sid Jeffers, turning suddenly on d.i.c.k.
”No, not at present,” answered the eldest Rover, boldly.
”Where are you bound?”
”For Tampa Bay.”
”What vessel is this?”
”The steam yacht _Mermaid_.”
”Did you charter her?”
”No, we found her,” answered d.i.c.k, resolved to tell the plain truth.
”Found her?” came from the mate and also from Dan Baxter.
”Yes.”
”Where?”
”Out here in the gulf.”
”Who was on board?” questioned Sack Todd.
”n.o.body.”
”n.o.body!” came from all the newcomers.
”Do you mean to say there wasn't a soul on this boat when you found her?” asked Dan Baxter, in high curiosity.
”That is the truth,” said Tom. ”She was drifting around, abandoned.
We simply climbed on board and took possession.”
”Out in the middle of the gulf?” asked the first mate, incredulously.