“Don’t see anything of the Mary Delaway yet,” remarked Larry Dixon. “I’m afraid we’ll have to shut up shop till mornin’.”
“Could the schooner reach Portland by that time?” asked Sam.
“She’d be there early in the morning,” answered the old sailor.
“Then we had better run for Portland, too,” said Tom. “We might hang around outside the harbor on the watch.”
It was a clear night, with no moon, but with countless stars bespangling the heavens. The boys and some of the others remained on the watch, although they could see but little.
“It would be great if we had a searchlight,” said Sam.
“Just the thing!” cried Tom. “But we haven’t any, so what’s the use of talking about it?”
“Might as well try to get some sleep,” said Captain Wells, about nine o’clock. “I can call you if anything turns up.”
“We’ll stay up a couple of hours yet,” answered Dick, although the excitement of the day had worn him out.
But not a sight of the schooner was seen, and one after another the Rover boys laid down to get a few hours’ sleep. Captain Wells allowed them to rest until six o’clock. By that time they were standing around near the entrance to Portland harbor.