HUNTING THE DERELICT
“Well, now that we’re under way,” said Jerry, who had assumed charge of
the engine, “in which direction do you propose going, Mr. De Vere? We
are under your orders you know.”
“There are to be no special orders given on this cruise,” was the
answer. “I regard you boys as my partners in this enterprise. We will
all do our best to find the brig, and if any of you have any
suggestions, I hope you will not hesitate to offer them. To be frank
with you I do not know where to look for the _Rockhaven. _ She is
somewhere in this vicinity, floating around, but at the mercy of wind,
wave and cross currents. All we can do is to cruise about, hoping to
get a sight of her.”
“I thought when you searched for anything on the ocean you had to have
the longitude and latitude,” said Rob.
“So you do usually,” replied Mr. De Vere, but, in this case it is
impossible to get those figures. If it were it would be an easy matter
to pick up the brig. But, in the case of a derelict, that is floating
about, going in no particular direction, and making only such speed as
the wind or the currents give it, there is no telling where it will
drift to. It might be at one spot at night, and many miles off the next
morning.”
“We are prepared for a long cruise,” spoke Ned, “and it doesn’t matter
which way we go. How would it do to go about in big circles, taking a
new one every day?”
“That’s a good plan,” said the owner of the _Rockhaven. _ “We might try
it, at any rate.”
So this was done. With chart and compass Mr. De Vere, who understood
the science of navigation, worked out a plan of traveling about in big
sweeps, that took in a goodly portion of that part of the Pacific. They
had some strong marine glasses aboard and, with these, they would take
an observation, every now and then, to see if there was any sight of
the brig. As they did not expect to come upon her close to the harbor
of San Felicity, this work was not undertaken until the afternoon of
the first day.
In the meanwhile the _Ripper’s_ cabin had been put in ship-shape, bunks
were arranged for sleeping and, at his request Bob was put in charge of
the galley, to prepare the meals and be cook.
“And mind,” cautioned Jerry, “don’t eat all the things yourself. Give
us a chance, once in a while.”
“Of course; what do you think I am?” asked Bob indignantly.
“I don’t think—I know,” replied Jerry with a laugh.
Mr. De Vere could not do much to help the boys as, with his broken arm
in a sling, he had to be careful how he moved about so that he would
not be tossed against the side of the boat and injured. The _Ripper_
was a large boat, for one of the motor class, but, when it got outside
the harbor, and felt the full force of the Pacific swell, it was not as
easy riding as the boys had imagined. At first they were a little
inclined to be seasick, as it was some time since they had been on such
a big stretch of water, but, after a while, they got used to it.
The approach of night found them many miles from the harbor, but they
had had no sight of the derelict, nor, did they expect to. If the
deserted brig was anywhere in the vicinity, it must be pretty well out
to sea, Mr. De Vere told them. So when it got dark, and lights were set
aglow in the cozy cabin, it was with light hearts that the boys and
their friends gathered around the supper table, Bob had prepared a good
meal, and they enjoyed it very much.
They took turns at the night watches, the boat continuing to steam on
ahead, and the person on the lookout taking occasional observations of
the dark horizon through powerful night glasses.
Morning found them upon a waste of waters, out of sight of land, and
with not a sail in view.
“Say, but it’s lonesome,” remarked Bob when he went to the galley to
get breakfast. “What a big place the ocean is.”
“I suppose you expected to find a lot of excursion boats out here,”
remarked Jerry.
“I did not!” exclaimed Bob. “But I thought we might see a ship or two.”
For two days they cruised about, moving in great circles and keeping a
sharp watch for any sight of the derelict. Several times one of the
boys, after peering through the glasses, would call that they had
sighted her, and the motor boat would be rushed in that direction. But,
each time, it only resulted in disappointment for what they saw turned
out to be only a bit of wreckage, a big dead fish, or some floating box
or barrel, thrown overboard from some ship.
“It looks as if our search was going to be longer than I at first
thought,” said Mr. De Vere on the fifth day. “It is a good thing we are
well provisioned and have plenty of gasolene.”
“Yes, we could stay out for three weeks if necessary,” replied Jerry.
“I hope we don’t have to,” went on the owner of the brig. “A week ought
to bring us within sight of her, if she still floats. But there is no
telling what that scoundrel Blowitz may have done. He is capable of
having some one of the crew bore holes in the ship before they deserted
hEr, so she would slowly sink, and he could collect the insurance. In
fact he may have done so, and only be pretending that she is a
derelict. I wish we would get sight of her. A great deal, so far as my
fortune is concerned, depends on the result of this search.”
The boys, no less than Maurice De Vere, were anxious to sight the
derelict, not so much for the prize money, but because they wanted to
be successful, and have their cruise result in something.
Another day went by, and, though they sighted several vessels in the
distance, no water-logged craft or slowly drifting derelict greeted
their eyes.
“We’ll hope for better luck to-morrow,” said Mr. De Vere as darkness
began to fall, “though from the weather indications, I would say we
were in for a blow.”
“It does look as if getting ready for a storm,” admitted Jerry.
There was a curious stillness to the air, and the ocean had a queer
oily look, the waves heaving restlessly as though they were impatient
at their slow motion, and wanted to break into a wild revel.
Off to the west there was a murky, yellowish look to the sky, and, now
and then, there came puffs of wind that had in them a hint of great
force and power.
“We had better make everything as snug as possible,” advised Mr. De
Vere. “If it comes on to blow in the night we’ll have our hands full to
manage the boat.”