“No, they had nothing but hand baggage.”
“What—can you remember that?” questioned Dave.
“Yes, each had a suit-case and a small valise,—kind of a tool-bag affair.”
“Better look for that schooner, Dave,” said his uncle, in a low voice, and in a few minutes more they left the hotel, telling the clerk that they might be back.
“Shall we get breakfast now?” questioned the senator’s son. He was beginning to grow hungry.
“You can get something to eat if you wish, Roger,” answered Dave. “I am going to try to locate that schooner first.”
“No, I’ll wait too, then,” said Roger.
The shipping along the St. John’s River at Jacksonville is rather extensive. But Dunston Porter knew his business and went direct to one of the offices where he knew he could find out all about the ships going out under charter and otherwise.
“We want to find out about a schooner named the Emma Brown, or Black, or Jones, or some common name like that,” said Dave’s uncle, to the elderly man in charge. “She was in this harbor several days ago. I don’t know if she has sailed or not.”
“Emma Brown, eh?” mused the shipping-clerk. “Never heard of such a schooner.”