Tom leaped up and made for the bathroom. He reveled in the shower, and, having aroused the professor and Jeff, he fell to his dressing with a feeling of renewed vigor. In daylight, even inside this steel shell, things looked much brighter than they had during the gloom and uncertainty of the night. He had hardly completed his dressing when Obadiah himself appeared, accompanied by an elderly man of benign appearance.
"This is Sam Wrenchly, my foreman," he explained. "He has looked over the damage to the Sea Ranger and informs me that it will take two days to repair her."
"Two days!"
Tom could not repress a groan. He sank down on the edge of the bunk and buried his head in his hands. What might not happen to his brother and his chum in two days? It was a crushing blow, and Tom could not be blamed for feeling "knocked out" for an instant.
Obadiah placed a hand kindly on the lad's shoulders.
"Come, cheer up, Tom," he said softly, "I have news for you. Sam here knows something of this Captain Rangler and his haunts."
Tom looked up, alert in an instant. The old man nodded his head sagely, and smiled under his gray beard.
"Yes, Rangler and I met many years ago," he said; "but I have occasionally heard of him since."
"And you think you know where he has taken my brother Jack and my chum Sandy?" asked Tom.
"I think so," said the old man calmly. "Did you ever hear tell of Castle Rock Island?"