Part 9 (1/2)

”The Tacoma, lad.”

”Are you bound for San Francisco?” questioned Sam.

”No, we are bound for Honolulu, on the Hawaiian Islands.”

”Honolulu!” burst out the others.

”Do you mean to say that the first port you will make will be Honolulu?”

demanded d.i.c.k.

”That's my orders, lad. I must get there just as quick as I can, too, for a cargo of sugar.”

”But we don't want to go to the Hawaiian Islands!” put in Dora.

”Mercy! It's two thousand miles away!”

At this Captain Fairleigh shrugged his broad shoulders.

”I am sorry for you, but I can't put back, miss. Perhaps we'll meet some vessel bound for some port in the United States. If so, I can ask the captain to take you back.”

”And if you don't meet any vessel?” came from Grace.

”Oh, I think we'll pa.s.s some vessel,” returned the captain.

He took the girls and introduced them to, his wife, and then turned the boys and old Jerry over to the first mate, who obtained for them some dry clothing. After this all were provided with a hot supper, which did much toward making them comfortable, at least physically speaking.

But not one of them was comfortable mentally. To be carried to the Hawaiian Islands, two thousand miles away, was no pleasant thought.

Besides, what would their folks think of their prolonged absence?

”Mother will think that we have all been drowned,” said Dora.

”And that is what our folks will think, too,” said Nellie. ”Oh, it is terrible, simply terrible!” And she wrung her little hands.

By making inquiries d.i.c.k learned that the steamer was expected to reach Honolulu inside of two weeks, if the weather was not too, bad.

From Honolulu they could get pa.s.sage to San Francisco on the mail steamer, the trip lasting exactly seven days.

”We'll have to get some money first,” said Tom. ”And we can't cable for it, either,” he went on, for the cable to the Hawaiian Islands from the United States had not yet been laid.

”Let us hope that we will see some s.h.i.+p that will take us back,” said Sam.

Day after day they watched eagerly for a pa.s.sing sail. But though they sighted four vessels and hailed them, not one was bound for the United States, outside of a whaler, and that craft intended to stay out at least three months longer before making for port.

”We are booked for this trip, and no mistake,” sighed Tom. ”Well, since that is so, let us make the best of it.”

The Tacoma was heavily laden, and though the storm cleared away and the Pacific Ocean became moderately calm, she made but slow progress.

”Our boilers are not in the best of condition,” said Captain Fairleigh.

”I trust there is no danger of their blowing up,” returned d.i.c.k.

”Not if we don't force them too much.”