“And a qua-arter, two!”
That signified two and a quarter fathoms, or thirteen and a half feet of water under the bottom of the cruiser, which drew about nine feet.
Rapidly hauling in, while the “Rocket” now hardly more than crawled along in these shallows, Prentiss heaved the lead once more.
“And a scant—two!” he reported. Joe Dawson, leaping to the deck, ranged up alongside of Jed. The water had a shallower look ahead.
“A-a-and three-qua-arters—one!” came the hail from the leadsman.
Ten and a half feet meant a foot and a half to spare under the deepest point of the cruiser’s keel.
Once more Jed poised the lead for the heave, but Joe, taking a more knowing look, shouted back:
“Reverse her, captain, or you’ll poke her nose in the mud!”
Instantly Captain Halstead’s hand flew to the reversing lever. Slowly the motor boat stole backward. The stranger had passed around to the seaward side of the little island, and was making for the inlet.