The above colloquy took place between Jerry, Ned and Bob in the big shed that housed the motorship Comet, a few hours after their decision to start in their air craft in search of the wreck of the Hassen. The boys had lost no time going over their wonderful craft to put her in the best possible condition for a long, and possibly dangerous, flight.
They had determined to start at once on the search, for well they knew the terrible distress the shipwrecked persons might be in—with nothing but an open boat between them and the vast ocean.
But there were a few needful things to be done, and one was the installation of a large searchlight, and it was concerning this that the talk had been.
Bob was of the opinion that the big lamp should go farther toward the bow, but Jerry had his own reasons for placing it where it was. The light was a new one, much larger than the one heretofore in use, and it had been purchased and installed in a hurry.
“For we may have to stay on the wing all night,” said Ned, “and this light may enable us to locate even a small boat on the ocean.”
“But if we do find my uncle and cousin in a small boat, how can we save them?” asked Bob.
“Easily enough, if the sea isn’t too rough,” replied Jerry. “We can drop the hydroplanes, and descend to them. If it’s too rough we can drop a rope, and haul them up, or even tow the boat if we have to. I’m not worrying about that part of it. The thing to do first is to find them.”
“And that isn’t going to be so easy,” observed Bob, with a sigh.
“Oh, don’t be crossing bridges until you can hear the rustling of their wings,” spoke Ned, with a smile at his chum. “Now let’s get busy, stock up, and set out on this cruise. We’ve lost a lot of time as it is.”
“That’s right,” agreed Jerry. “But we’re doing the best we can.”