"Where from, and where bound?" asked the officer.
"We don't know," replied Frank, with a smile.
"You don't know! Well, who's in command?"
"I guess we are," went on Frank. "We picked her up yesterday, and we've been aboard ever since. She was abandoned."
The officer uttered a whistle of surprise.
"I'll come aboard," he said, a moment later. "Fend off, and stand by until I signal you," he added, to the sailors. The officer, who proved from the lettering on his cap, to be the chief mate, was soon on the deck of the Mary Ellen, and then came a series of questions.
Frank and his chums told about all that had happened to them from the time of being blown out to sea in the motor boat until they were seen by the steamer.
"It was your flag, union down, that caught our attention," the mate said. "You're a set of plucky youngsters, and I congratulate you. Now I suppose you'd better come aboard the steamer, unless you want to take this schooner to port yourselves and claim the salvage money," he said with a smile.
"Indeed we do not!" exclaimed Bob. "We've had enough of her. I want to send a wireless message to my mother—quick."