“Yes, and I hope Uncle Sam gets all the securities back,” added Jack.
The boys sent a telegram home stating that they were well and that they were going to continue the trip the following morning.
When they returned to the Firefly they found that Captain Corning, as well as the head diver and his assistant, had gone ashore. The mate was in charge and said that two of the sailors had had a brief leave of absence. It was not until late that Captain Corning returned, coming in shortly after the arrival of Olesen and Amend. The sailors did not come in until later.
“I had Olesen and his assistant followed,” said the commander of the Firefly in response to questions from the boys. “They visited several questionable resorts where I suppose they got some bootleg liquor. They did not go near any hardware stores or other places where they might have purchased firearms. Just the same, they may have gotten some pistols on the sly.”
“Olesen came aboard with a package,” said Jack; “but of course I don’t know what was in it.”
The Firefly sailed early the following morning, the course being now southwest to the coast of Yucatan. The sun was exceedingly hot, but the heat was tempered by a fair breeze, for which all on board were thankful. Now that they were getting closer to the spot where the Margarita was supposed to be resting, the boys became more interested than ever in the drawing and charts which Captain Corning possessed, and pored over the papers by the hour, trying to figure out just where the ill-fated steam yacht had gone down. The captain and his mate, as well as Leif Olesen, likewise studied the papers and also studied several books which the captain had brought along, books that gave much information concerning the coast line of Yucatan and a study of the shifting sandbars and of such storms as occurred along this coast from time to time.
“We’ve got a pretty good idea of where the Margarita was abandoned,” explained Captain Corning. “So the only question is: In what direction did the derelict blow after the craft was left to herself? Did she go up the coast or down, was she blown ashore or on a sandbar or the rocks, or did she slide down into the depth of the center of the Gulf?”
“Let’s hope she went on a sandbar or on the rocks,” answered Fred.
“Yes, and that she is still there,” added Andy.
“Well, boys, you mustn’t be too much disappointed if we fail to find the Margarita,” warned the captain. “I’ll hate to lose my money, just the same as you’ll hate to lose yours. But we’ve got to be prepared for a failure just as much as for a success.”