Wells had started to climb from the cockpit, but Flash pulled him back.
“Wait, Joe! I have an idea!”
“Spill it.”
“Riley didn’t order us not to make the trip. Why don’t we try anyway?”
“That is a brilliant brain wave,” Wells said scornfully. “We’d have a trip for nothing, run up a nice bill, and get fired for our trouble!”
“Maybe not, Joe. We’d be taking a chance all right, but I have a hunch we can get aboard the Belmonia.”
“How?”
“Listen, Joe, sea captains are supposed to have humanitarian instincts, aren’t they? If Sorenson saw a fellow swimming in the ocean miles from shore wouldn’t steam away and let him drown, would he?”
“Sorenson might,” replied Wells. “No ordinary trick will work with him. But what’s your scheme?”
“It’s simple. Dave flies us out to meet the Belmonia. When we’re certain we’ve attracted attention, one of us jumps overboard—”