Part 46 (1/2)
”We are pretty certain they have.”
”And the girl?”
”Yes.”
”And what is the reward for the girl, senor?”
”Well, I declare!” burst out Tom. ”They are after a reward the first thing.”
”No reward yet,” answered d.i.c.k. ”But there may be.”
At this the South American scowled. ”We cannot lose time on a hunt that is worth nothing,” he said. ”We must get to Brooklyn by tomorrow morning.”
”You won't help us bring them to justice?”
”We cannot afford to lose the time.”
Without further words the big steamer's engines were started up again and away she sped, leaving the _Searchlight_ to sink and rise on the rollers left in her wake.
”My, but that fellow is accommodating!” groaned d.i.c.k. ”He isn't doing a single thing without pay.”
”We might have bought some provisions from him,” put in Martin Harris. ”I reckon he'd sell some for a round price--being so near to the end of his voyage.”
”I don't want his stuff,” remarked Sam.
”I'm afraid it would choke me if I tried to eat it.”
The stop had given the _Flyaway_ an advantage, and she was making the most of it. But before the gun went down those on the other yacht saw her head for the coast once more.
”I guess the note told the truth,” said Harris.
”Is Sand Haven near here?” questioned Tom.
”It is not over half a mile further down the coast.”
”And how far are we out?” was the police sergeant's question.
”Between five and six miles, as near as I can calculate.”
”Will they be able to run in by dark?”
”I think so. You see, the wind is s.h.i.+fting, and it depends a good bit on how much it veers around,” concluded the old sailor.
Slowly the sun sank in the west. It was growing cloudy and a mist was rising. The mist made Martin Harris shake his head; but, not wis.h.i.+ng to alarm the others, he said nothing.
But soon d.i.c.k noticed the mist and so did the rest. ”Gracious, supposing we get caught in a fog!” muttered Tom.
”I was just thinking of it,” returned his elder brother. ”There will be no fun in it--if we are out of sight of land.”
A quarter of an hour went by, and still no land appeared. It was now so raw that the boys were glad enough to b.u.t.ton their coats tightly about them. Then, of a sudden, the fog came rolling over them like a huge cloud, and they were unable to see a dozen yards in any direction.