"Wa'al," Captain Eph replied slowly, "we've begun to think he is, though I don't reckon we can hold him with us very long. He came ashore in a fog storm—"
"His father is Captain Harlow of the schooner West Wind!" Captain Nutter cried quickly.
"Ay, that's who he is," the keeper replied in surprise; "but how do you happen to know it?"
"Because I spoke the West Wind two days ago. She had been cruising around in search of the missing boat, and was only just put on her course again when I met her. Captain Harlow asked me to have the fact of the lad's being adrift in a motor boat inserted in all the leading newspapers, offering a reward to any one who could give information concerning the boy. He is bound for San Juan, and thence to Cadiz."
It was only natural that Sidney should be in the highest degree excited and delighted at thus hearing directly from his father; but an expression of disappointment came over his face as he heard the keeper's question and Captain Nutter's reply:
"How long is he likely to be gone on such a voyage as that?"
"Of course very much depends upon the length of time he is forced to remain in port discharging and loading; but it is safe to reckon on its being ended inside of a year. In the meantime, as I understood him to say, his owners will advance whatever money the boy may need."
"A year!" Sidney exclaimed ruefully.
"A year!" Captain Eph cried in delight, and Mr. Peters asked anxiously:
"Think you'd be able to stick it out on Carys' Ledge that long, Sonny, or will you go ashore the first chance that offers?"