“Well, he seems to know the ropes, and he’s lots of fun. Besides we sort of turned him down the last time he asked us to go out.”
It was agreed that they would take the old sailor, but when they sought him they learned he had gone off for a couple of days on a fishing trip. They decided they would await his return. In the meanwhile they made short trips up and down the beach, going ashore to have lunch, which was served from the boat’s pantry. Mrs. Hopkins was a guest on one or two occasions.
One morning the boys were awakened at the cottage by a loud pounding at the kitchen door. None of the servants was up and Jerry, poking his head from his bed room window, which overlooked the rear entrance, called out:
“Who’s there?”
“It’s me! Sam! Hurry up boys!”
“What’s the matter? Is the place on fire?”
“No, but there’s a big vessel gone on the reef down the coast.”
“A wreck?”
“Yes, and she’s abandoned.”
“Anybody killed?”