“That might be all right,” said Jack. “But we’d have to take some grub along, and we’d have to be sure that we had gasoline.”
It was not until evening that Jack had another opportunity to talk to Ira Small.
“See here, Small,” he said, when they met in the semi-darkness, “if you want to leave the Hildegarde, why don’t you come aboard the motor boat with us?”
“I’d like to do it first rate,” answered the sailor, in a whisper. “But we’d have to be mighty careful or they’d be sure to spot us.”
“Do you think we could get hold of any provisions and some water to drink?”
“It might be done, lad. But we’d have to be mighty careful, I’ll tell you. If they saw any of us runnin’ away they’d shoot at us as sure as I’m standin’ here.”
“What about gasoline? Have they any on board?”
“Yes; they’ve a couple o’ barrels. You see, sometimes those small boats from shore have to hang around a long time to keep out o’ the way of revenue cutters. Then they use up their gasoline, and they’re glad ’nough to git a new supply from the schooner.”
“Where is the gasoline kept?”