Part 31 (1/2)
”We must have pa.s.sed her on the way!” cried Dave, to Captain Sanders.
”Could we do that?”
”Perhaps, since we only had half a cargo, Dave. Besides, maybe that vessel was damaged by the storm.”
”I wonder how soon she will get in?” mused Roger.
At this the captain shrugged his shoulders.
”It is impossible to say. I've known a s.h.i.+p to be a week and sometimes nearly a month overdue. And I've known a s.h.i.+p to drop out altogether,”
he added, soberly.
”Oh, don't say you think she has gone down!” cried Dave, in alarm.
”Let us hope not, Dave.”
The day pa.s.sed, and also the next and the next. The cargo of the _Golden Eagle_ was unloaded, and the Englishmen, who had been pa.s.sengers, left for parts unknown. As each day slipped by, Dave grew more serious. What if the _Emma Brower_ had gone down, carrying Merwell, Jasniff, and the Carwith jewels with her?
CHAPTER XX-LANDING ON CAVE ISLAND
At the end of a week Dave was more worried than ever. Each day he and his chums went down to the s.h.i.+pping offices and each day returned to the hotel disappointed. Not a word had been heard concerning the missing vessel and those on board.
The _Golden Eagle_ was all ready to sail on her return trip to the United States, but Phil told Captain Sanders to wait.
”Perhaps we'll hear to-day,” he said, and this was repeated day after day.
It was very warm and the boys were glad they had brought along some thin clothing. They scarcely knew what to do with themselves, and Dave was particularly sober.
”I suppose Mr. Wadsworth and the rest are waiting to hear from me,” he said to his chums. ”But what is the use of sending a message when I haven't anything to say?”
Another Sunday pa.s.sed, and on Monday the boys visited the _Golden Eagle_, and then went with Captain Sanders to the nearest s.h.i.+pping office.
”Something is going on!” cried the senator's son, as he noticed an unusual crowd congregated. ”Must be news of some sort.”
”Let us find out what it is!” returned our hero, quickly.
”The _Emma Brower_ has been heard from,” said a man, standing near.
”That's the vessel that was missing, don't you know,” he added.
”What of her?” asked Dave.
”Went down in that terrible storm we had about ten days ago.”
”Down!” gasped all of the boys, while Captain Sanders looked the concern he felt.
”So they say. I do not know the particulars,” went on the man as he walked away.
It did not take the boys and the captain long to get into the s.h.i.+pping office and there they learned as many of the particulars as were known. A tramp steamer from Porto Rico had come in bringing word that she had sighted portions of a wreck while out at sea, and an investigation proved the same to belong to the _Emma Brower_. A portion of a small boat had been picked up, but nothing had been seen of sailors or pa.s.sengers.