Many of the stores were soaked, a fact which did not please any of them. But they were glad that they had the things. Otherwise it would have been folly to attempt to escape in the motor boat. For all they knew, it might take them several days to reach land.
In the meanwhile, the flames on the deck of the Hildegarde had mounted higher and higher, catching on a few of the tarred ratlines of the mainmast.
“Now hurry up an’ git that engine started!” cried Ira Small. “We want to git away while the goin’s good.”
A lantern was lit and in a few minutes Ralph and one or two of the others had the motor in working order. Then the battery was turned on, and in a second more the motor responded and a steady putt-putt greeted the boys’ ears, much to their delight.
“I’ll take the wheel!” cried Jack. “You see that the motor does its duty, Ralph.”
“All right. I think we’ll need some of that gasoline we brought along before a great while. You know, I said our supply was running low when we were captured.”
The Fancy was headed away from the schooner, and then, as near as he was able, Jack steered for where he supposed the far-distant coast might be located. In the meanwhile, the other lads and Ira Small rested.
“Gee, but that was some get-away!” panted Andy.
“I’ll tell the world!” came from Fred. “When I came down the cable I thought I would never reach the motor boat. Some strong pull to the ocean!”