“I wish I knew,” Ned said fervently.
“What good would that do?”
“When the wind shifts or morning comes we could have some idea of how far we are at sea in that case.”
“I’ll guarantee we shall be outside, where there won’t be any danger of striking the land, for she must be going at the rate of eight or ten miles an hour.”
“Not more than six or seven at the most,” Roy replied in a positive tone. “The sea is kicking up such a bobbery that it seems as if we were moving through the water much faster than really is the case; with the screw dragging we are doing well to make six miles.”
“We’ll call it six; that will give us somethin’ to guess by, at all events,” Ned replied. “There’s no question but that this is goin’ to be an all-night job for the whole crew, and I think you fellers had better get your supper.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll come down when you have finished.”
“I don’t think it is safe to leave only one man on deck,” Roy said decidedly. “Vance, you go and fill up and I’ll stay with Ned till you get back.”
This was by all odds the wisest course to pursue, and one by one the three ate their supper.