"In that old tub that is full of oil casks and the like?"
"Whistler Morgan!" breathed Torry in amazement, "how do you know at this distance what kind of cargo that boat has?"
"Why, she fairly reeks of oil!" said Whistler confidently. "See that streak along the water in her wake—that purplish, reddish streak?"
"I see it!" admitted Torry in a moment.
"Nothing but oil would do that. She's got leaky casks aboard. And where would an oil lighter be going out this way? Where is she coming from and where is she going? And what is that bewhiskered Blake doing aboard her? Tell me that, will you?"
But the wondering and excited Torrance could not answer these questions.
CHAPTER VI
AN OLD FRIEND
Fishing rather palled upon both Whistler and Trry after sighting the other boat. The younger boys had not paid much attention to the passing of the craft which Whistler was confident was an oil lighter of some kind.