Part 20 (1/2)

”What can be done?” asked Cora.

”I don't know, yet. I'm going to find out. Maybe it isn't so bad as it sounds after all,” replied Jack.

”It sounds bad enough,” sighed Cora. ”But, Jack, I am with you in this. I simply won't be left out.”

”And no one wants to leave you out, Sis. Walter, just see if we can get a carriage, or a motor, to the marina. We'll take a boat from there out to the Boldero.”

”I will give you a letter to the captain,” said Senor Ramo. ”He knows me well, and he will show you every courtesy.”

”Surely,” thought Cora, ”this man cannot be a political plotter, who would put innocent men in prison. Inez must be mistaken about him.

He is very kind.”

Some little excitement was caused by the advent of the bad news to our party of friends, and it quickly spread through the hotel. A number of the guests, whose acquaintance the motorgirls had made, offered their services, but there was little they could do. What was most needed was information concerning the wreck.

Inez, who had made the getting of Cora's fan an excuse to go to her room, to escape Senor Ramo, heard the sad tidings, and came down. By this time the ”fat suspect,” as Jack had nicknamed him, had gone, having scribbled a note of introduction to the captain of the Boldero.

”Oh, what is it, Senoritas?” gasped Inez. ”Is it zat you are in sorrow?”

”Yes,” said Cora, sadly. ”Great sorrow, Inez. We have had very bad news,” and there were tears in her eyes.

”I sorrow with you,” said the impulsive Spanish girl, as she put her arm about Cora. ”I was in sorrow myself, and you aided me. Now I must do ze same for you. Command me.”

”There is little that can be done until we learn more,” Cora made answer. ”The steamer has been wrecked.”

”With Senor Robinson, and with the Senoras Kimball and Robinson?”

gasped Inez.

”So we hear.”

”Ah, zat is indeed of great sorrow. I weep for you. My own little troubles are a nothing. My father may be in prison, but what of zat--he is living--and your mother--”

She did not finish. Walter came in to announce that he had secured a large auto that would take them to the marina, whence they could get a boat to go out to the steamer.

”I only hope those sailors haven't disappeared,” murmured Jack. ”Now then, are you girls ready?”

”Yes,” answered Belle. She, as well as Cora and Bess, had somewhat recovered their composure, after the first sudden shock. Hope had sprung up again, though they were presently to learn on what a slender thread that hope hung. Jack had regained some of his former commanding manner in the emergency.

Inez went with her new friends to the docks. She seemed to have forgotten her own grief in ministering to the girls, and much of her former timid and shrinking manner had disappeared.

They found a large and powerful motor boat that would take them out to the s.h.i.+p, and, indeed, a staunch craft was needed, since there was still a heavy swell on, from the recent storm.

”Are there many boats like this in San Juan?” asked Jack of the man at the wheel, who spoke very good English.

”Not many. There's only one as good, and that's much larger. She's the Tartar--and she's a beauty!”

”For charter?”

”Well, maybe. The same man owns her as owns this one, but only large parties engage her.”

”Fast and seaworthy?”