“Walk I guess,” replied Jerry with a laugh. “It’s only about five miles by the shore road.”
“Well I guess you’ll not walk while there’s gasolene in the Three Bells,” was the hearty answer. “Get aboard. We’ll cruise around a bit, and maybe we’ll get sight of those rascals on the sloop. They probably sailed out to sea, towing your boat, and they’ll be likely to hide it in some cove until the affair blows over.”
Captain Jenkinson had a party of friends aboard his boat, but there was plenty of room for the boys. There was much sympathy expressed for them, and every one volunteered to be on the lookout for the Dartaway.
In the powerful boat quite an area of the bay in the vicinity of the dock was covered, in a search for a sight of the sloop. It was a fairly light night, and a sailing vessel could be made out some distance away.
There were several false alarms, and once the Three Bells gave chase to a sloop that seemed trying to get away. But when they got up to her they found it was only a fishing boat getting a start for early morning work, and there was no sign of the boys’ craft.
“Too bad!” remarked Captain Jenkinson, as he landed the boys at their dock. “But it’s sure to turn up sooner or later. They’ll not dare to sell her, and can only keep her hidden. There are not many places where a boat the size of yours can be tucked away.”
It was kindly and well meant consolation, but the boys never felt in lower spirits than they did that night. Mrs. Hopkins tried to cheer them up, but it was hard work. She even suggested they hire another boat and make a search of the nearby harbors, for the missing one.
“I guess that’s a good plan,” said Jerry to his chums. “We’ll do it to-morrow.”
“What ought we to do about warning Mr. Hardack?” asked Ned, as they got ready to retire.