They had now made an inspection of the Mary Ellen, and they knew no more about her than at first. It was all a strange mystery of the sea.
"We're going along some," said Frank, as he looked over the side.
A little breeze had sprung up, and, now that the sails of the schooner were set to catch the wind, she went ahead through the waves, pulling the motor boat after her.
"Hadn't we better steer?" asked Bob.
"No, we can tie the wheel fast, while we eat," said Frank. "She'll steer herself then, and we won't have to bother."
"Which way shall we steer?" asked Bob.
"Straight ahead, I say," remarked Frank, who seemed to have taken command. "We don't know where we are, and we don't know which way land is, so one direction is as good as another. It will be easier to steer straight ahead, and we may sight land that way, as well as if we set the rudder to right or left."
To this his chums agreed, and soon the wheel was tied fast, or "lashed" to use the proper sea term. Then the boys pulled on the rope attached to the motor boat, and brought the Skip alongside. They could easily get on her raised cabin deck from the schooner rail, for the larger vessel was not very high in the water.
"Say, hold on," said Frank, when they were about to go aboard. "What's the matter with us bringing our grub up from there, and staying here? It's safer here if it comes on to blow again, and we'll be more comfortable. We can use the captain's cabin, and have more room to move about."
"But it will be a lot of work to cook on that big coal stove," objected Sammy.