“Well, we’ve covered twenty-two of those squares on the captain’s chart,” answered Randy. “That’s something.”
“Yes, and there are only about seventy squares left,” came from Andy. “We’ve got to hit something sooner or later,” he added hopefully.
“If we strike something before the whole checkerboard is crossed off!” sighed Fred. He showed plainly that failure would mean a great disappointment to him.
And for the matter of that, failure would mean bitter disappointment to all. Even the captain was beginning to look worried and spoke rather sharply when he addressed the men. The seven thousand dollars he had invested in the quest was practically all the money he possessed.
Another day passed, and this was unusually warm, for the breeze had died away. The boys sat under an awning trying to keep cool and trying to amuse themselves by reading and talking.
Presently Jack grew restless and began to pace the deck. He went well forward and then, turning, found that Jake Patnak had followed him.
“Well, Jake, this is getting to be a long-winded affair,” he remarked pleasantly to the tall sailor.
“Mr. Rover, I want to speak to you, but I don’t want Leif Olesen or Nick Amend to see me,” returned the tall sailor in a low tone of voice. “Come here, please,” and he pointed to the side of the forecastle.
“What is it? Have you discovered something?” asked Jack, as he stepped to the place indicated.