“You don’t tell!” cried the astonished Captain.
“That’s why we didn’t see her go by!” said Billy.
“Can they get her off?” Fred shouted after the informer.
“Nah—they tells me she’s a total wrack!”
The boys looked at each other while the same desire sprang up in each heart—to visit that wreck!
“Can’t we go down and see her, Captain?” asked Billy.
“Well, it’s purty far out to sea—off Monhegan; and, besides, the ground swell’s bad there,” hesitated Captain Ed.
“Captain, if Aunt Miriam will lend us the Zeus and Benton goes along, don’t you s’pose it will be all right!” urged Fred.
The Captain had hard work hiding his own desire to go, being stirred by inherited beach-combing tendencies. Hence, he agreed to the exciting plan.
Without the loss of any time, the boys sailed over to Isola Bella and in a pleading manner broached the subject to their aunt. They must not seem too eager or the trip too exciting or she would refuse her consent.