“Well, some woman has to be first,” returned Linda. “I’ll think about it, anyway. In the meanwhile, I think I’ll go down to have a talk with the men at the docks.... By the way, have you an expert mechanic?”
“The very best!”
“Then please have him give the Sky Rocket a thorough inspection. Doubly thorough, for tell him what I am contemplating. And have him take a look at the wireless that is already installed. And fill her up with gas and oil.”
“O. K.,” agreed the man, shaking his head as if he thought Linda were crazy.
“Oh, yes—and could you get me a rubber life-boat?” she inquired.
“At considerable cost.”
“Well, get me one if you can, and have it put in,” said Linda, as if she were ordering an ice-cream soda.
“Then you really are serious about going?” asked the man, unable to believe she meant what she was saying.
“If I find good reason to think that couple sailed for Hawaii,” she replied. “But not if I don’t. It isn’t a stunt, you see.”
The girls left immediately in a taxicab for the dock. Here they saw numerous small boats and yachts, and it occurred to Linda to wonder whether the missing couple might not have gone off in a pleasure boat. But after all, they couldn’t get far in the Pacific in a yacht, unless it were one specially built for the purpose, and the idea seemed improbable.