"There's no way it can be done except by setting the sheet anchor thirty or forty fathoms toward the mouth of the harbor and working down to it by sheer expenditure of muscle."
"Never mind that just now," Bob replied gloomily, "for there's another question to be settled. What do you s'pose that crowd in the cabin want?"
"I reckon they're counting on our taking them away," Joe replied laughingly. "Most any fellow who had been marooned on this key would like to leave."
"But I don't believe their yarn about bein' left behind, unless they were up to some mischief an' the captain didn't know what else to do with 'em."
"They ain't very pleasant-looking customers, for a fact; but yet they may be honest sailors."
"I don't take any stock in it, or they'd never carry sail as they do. The red-nosed fellow was heavin' plates at Harry when I went below, an' they tried to make me believe the boy had been givin' 'em impudence. Now they promise to do full work if we'll take them with us."
"And I reckon that's just about what you'll have to do, Bob. It would be cruel to leave them here; and, besides, we shall need the whole crowd before the Bonita can be floated. If I could repair the tug in any reasonable length of time, it would be another matter; but since that can't be done, on account of the damage to the steam-chest, there's a good deal of heavy work ahead."
"Then your advice is to tell 'em they can stay aboard," Bob said moodily.
"I don't see what else you can do, more especially since it might be awkward if they should conclude to remain whether we wanted them or not."
Bob was silent several moments, and then he said impatiently: