Part 3 (1/2)
”It's not a cheerful sound certainly,” agreed Rob
”Bo now faint, now loud, as the wind rose and fell
”I'd like to go aboard that boat and explore her,” declared Merritt
”That's an opportunity you shall have,” said the Lieutenant ”It is our rule to explore all such derelicts for a hint as to the fate of their crew before we consign theiven to check the speed of the _Seneca_ and to prepare to lower a boat
”Are we to go?” chorused the Scouts eagerly
”Of course Mr Hargreaves will acco?” asked Rob
”No It's an old story withfor you, I ork out our position, which o in with my report of the derelict's destruction”
Five minutes later, in one of the _Seneca's_ whale boats, the boys were ski over the sea toward the , the bell kept up its ularity of a shore bell su worshi+ppers to church
As the whaleboat was pulled around the derelict's stern they could see a name painted on the square counter, surrounded with many a scroll and flourish in the antique ilded and painted, but the gilt and color had long since worn off them
”_Good Hope of Portland, Me_,” read out Rob ”What a contrast between her name and her fate!”
”Bom-boom,” tolled the bell as if in answer to him
”She must have been one of those old-time clippers that sailed round the Horn with Yankee notions for the Spice Islands and China, and careaves
”She was a fine shi+p in her day, sir,” ventured the old quartermaster who pulled stroke oar
”Aye, aye, Tarbox; in those days the Areed the ensign ”To-day not one-tenth of the craft that used to fly the Stars and Stripes remain afloat They have vanished and their keels sweep the sea no more”
By this time they had arrived below the derelict's portdown, but all proved too rotten to support the weight of a Boy Scout, let alone aseely, depended from the bows of the old craft This withstood a test, and, led by Ensign Hargreaves, the boys clambered on deck Quartermaster Tarbox and the four sailors who had manned the oars were left in the boat
The boys' hearts beat a little faster as they stood on the forecastle of the abandoned _Good Hope_ Nor was this caused by the exertion of the cli upon that long-untrodden deck, while right below the break in the forecastle the bell kept up its doon's first task was to , and thereafter their nerves felt steadier With the dying out of the clamor of the bell, a death-like hush fell over the abandoned shi+p Only the rippling complaint of the water as she rolled to and fro broke the stillness The boys actually found the above the decks of the ill-fated _Good Hope_
”Let us explore that deck house first,” said Ensign Hargreaves, and, followed by the boys, he started for the small structure which stood just aft of the wreck of the fore of the surprise that awaited them within, the boys followed, on tip-toe with curiosity and excitement
CHAPTER IV
A MYSTERY OF THE SEA
The door of the deck house was closed But the ensign opened it without difficulty, and with the boys pressing close on his heels he entered the place