Part 10 (1/2)
Old Gates now stretched, c.o.c.ked an eye up at the weather and, in a drawl, asked:
”Would it be supposing a great deal, sir, to suggest that the lady might be named Much-Learning?”
Whereupon we laughed uproariously, and Tommy slapped him on the knee, exclaiming:
”Papa Gates, you've hit it! Truly, she hath made us mad!”
”All the same,” I cried, arising and laughing down at them, ”there's one thing you can't explain away! The big adventure's come at last!--the wildest chase----”
”Love chase,” Tommy interposed.
”Chase,” I repeated, ”that man ever started! Are you fellows game enough to see it through--to the very end?”
”_Are_ we?” Tommy yelled, springing to his feet. ”To the very end! What say, Gates?--Professor?”
”To the very end, sir,” the old skipper's face beamed happily.
”Why, yes, my boys,” Monsieur declared. ”To the very end,--_certainement!_”
And Gates must have confided this to the crew, for later, as I pa.s.sed the mate, that worthy gave his forelock a pull and whispered:
”To the very end, sir!”
It pleased me immensely.
CHAPTER VI
A VOICE FROM THE WATER
A perfect tropical night crept down on us, with the sky a deep and velvety blue, and the stars low enough to touch. Brilliant phosph.o.r.escence dashed from our bow and a silvery streak trailed in our wake emphasizing the enchantment as the _Whim_ rose, leaned, and dipped over the bosom of the breathing Gulf. So, also, were my hopes; now up, now down, on the breast of another fickle monster. Love and the sea!
Have they not always been counterparts? Do they not span the known and unknown in each man's world, carrying some in safety--others destroying?
It must have been nine o'clock when the forward watch called and, springing to the rail, peering through the darkness, we saw down upon the horizon the fixed white eye and three red sectors of the Key West light.
”A good run, Gates.”
”Nothing of our size can beat it, sir.”
”You think the _Orchid_ will be in harbor?”
”I carn't say, sir. She had six hours' start of us, and could have left.”
”How long do we lay off this burg?” Tommy asked, sauntering up.
”That depends. If the mysterious yacht's here we'll stay till something happens.”
”And if she isn't,” he nudged the professor, ”we'll comb out the universe. You get that, don't you? A nice fat job, I'll say it is!
How'll we know which way to start? Gates, couldn't you get a peep at her papers in the port?” But the skipper solemnly shook his head, saying: