“I don’t know just how long we shall lie at Nassau,” said the good-natured purser; “but I think it will be ten or twelve days before we are in New York again.”
“Won’t we meet some ship that will take us back or carry a letter?” asked Phœnix.
“I can’t say,” replied the purser. “The captain will do what he can for you, but I don’t know that he will have a chance of putting you on board a northern-bound steamer, or of sending news of you to your friends.”
CHAPTER III.
“A CONTINENT BEFORE US.”
It was very hard for the boys to get their spirits up after the news they had just heard.
“Ten days before our folks hear from us!” ejaculated Phœnix. “That’s simply dreadful! They’ll give us up long before that time.”
“We will find them all in black when we get back,” said Chap, with a doleful face.
But even this gloomy prospect could not long depress the spirits of our young friends.
By the next morning they were going about cheerfully, hoping and believing that something would soon turn up by which they could speedily get back to their friends, or, at least, send news of their safety.