Part 16 (1/2)
”Saved money! Why, Agnes, they're not out of debt yet for what they owed to the butcher and the grocer and a whole lot of other people!”
”Yes, and think of its being in the dead of winter, too!” went on the sister, with a troubled face. ”I do hope they've coal and wood enough in the house to keep warm.”
”Yes, and clothing too. Think of those children going out in the bitter cold winter weather only about half clad!”
Nothing at present could be done, however, by any of them to help the Pendletons. Matters would have to take their course. Mr. Howbridge knew that his clerk would be informed of Oscar Pendleton's loss of employment and would take steps to aid the family accordingly. But nothing vital could be done for the Pendletons until the truth about the robbery of the Kolbeck & Roods warehouse was discovered.
Luke came back with Professor Keeps from their first expedition for the study of the flora of the island. The botanist was delighted with his discoveries, and he was intent upon cla.s.sifying and mounting his specimens during the next few days, so his young a.s.sistant was excused from attendance upon him.
The Kenway party planned a voyage around the island, for Mr. Howbridge's business friend owned a large motor-boat and had put the craft at the disposal of the party from the North.
Both Neale and Luke had some knowledge of the management of a launch, and the Kenway party got under way early one morning, provisioned for a voyage of at least forty-eight hours. That they took no native seaman along was a misfortune rather than an oversight. The caretaker of Senor Benno's motor-launch had been taken ill during the night and lay groaning in his hammock unable to go with the ”Americanos.”
”Shucks!” grumbled Neale, ”we don't need him. He wouldn't be much good anyway, like enough.”
”I suppose he would know the shoals and tides better than we do,” said Luke.
”I've got the newest chart,” declared Neale. ”And we will have a care in getting near the islands. Now, don't say anything to scare the girls.”
”How will you scare them?” Luke wanted to know. ”Agnes will always take a chance, and Ruth really isn't much afraid of anything. As for the kids--”
”Well, then,” Neale added, grinning, ”say nothing to Mr. Howbridge or he will want to send up to the hotel for Hedden. And Hedden, you know, would want to serve afternoon tea at five, even if we were wrecked on a desert island.”
They laughed over the possibilities of catastrophe, without considering that anything may happen upon a voyage like this, and in these tropical but treacherous seas.
The day was gloriously fair, and the motor at first acted as though charmed. The craft, named _Isobel_, made the circuit of the island long before evening. They had kept well off sh.o.r.e and were then in sight of the string of pearl-like islets that extended farther than they could see into the southeast. Palm-fronded, edged with white ruffles of water, and in the distance hazed in blue, they made an entrancing picture.
”We must see them all,” Ruth declared. ”Doesn't your chart tell you where there is a cove, or bay, where we can spend the night in safety, Neale?”
”Of course. And we can get there before nightfall,” declared Neale.
”What do you say, Mr. Howbridge?” Ruth asked their guardian.
”It seems quite safe to venture,” the lawyer returned. ”Is the engine acting all right, boys?”
”Don't see anything the matter with it,” replied Luke.
But one can never prophesy regarding a motor-boat engine.
St. Sergius was twenty-five miles behind them, and the nearer of the chain of small islands was not less than ten miles away, when the power went wrong on the _Isobel_.
”That comes of blowing about how fine she worked without knocking wood,”
grumbled Neale O'Neil.
”Is it going to keep us long?” asked Agnes.
”What a ridiculous question that is!” rejoined her friend. ”Am I a prophet, or the son of a prophet? What do you say, Luke?”
Luke had been scanning the horizon to westward. He stepped down into the c.o.c.kpit of the _Isobel_ with some haste.