“But we’ve got a chance to save them—and we’re going to!” cried Bob. “Come on, fellows!”
The old sailor quickly concluded his story.
“When the storm passed,” he said, “I managed to get steam up in one of the pumping engines, and I cleaned out the engine room. But one man can’t work the machinery, so I’m just letting her drift. I’m going to get up a bit of a sail, if I can, to give her steerage way, and then I’ll make for the nearest port. If I can fetch it my salvage money will make me rich.”
“Hadn’t you better let us take you in our airship,” suggested Jerry. “We have plenty of room, and you could hire a tug and get the Hassen to port more quickly.”
“What! Trust myself in an airship? I guess not!” cried the old sailor. “I’ll stick here, thank you just the same. And I hope you find your uncle, son,” he said to Bob.
“If we do, we’ll come back and get you,” promised Ned.
“I may be in port ahead of you,” was the sailor’s answer. “Once I get up a bit of sail I can make pretty good speed. I’m sorry I was so surly when you came aboard. I was below, studying out what to do, and I sure thought I had been boarded by some parties that wanted to cheat me out of my prize.”
“We were surprised to find anyone aboard,” said Jerry. “If you like we’ll help you raise a sail. I guess we can spare that time.”
“Surely,” said Bob. “Now that we know about where to look for my uncle it won’t be such a puzzle.”
A sail was quickly rigged up on one of the stumps of the wireless masts, and then, bidding the lone sailor good-bye, and promising to look for him in case they should be successful in their quest, the boys and Professor Snodgrass boarded the Comet and prepared to start off.