When Pomp and Reynard were aroused and told what transpired, they were wild with vexation.
“Golly!” cried the coon, “I done lock him in de sto’room, sah, an’ nebber tink ob sich a ting as dot he gwine fo’ ter git out. Bress my soul, if I know dat he git away I’d aslep’ befo’ de do’ wif one eye open de hull night.”
“We’ve had all our trouble in vain,” sighed the detective, dolefully. “Holy smoke! he’s a daisy!”
Just then Frank caught sight of a white object floating in the water and he leveled the glass at it
“A life-preserver!” he muttered. “And bless me if it isn’t the very one Murdock stole from the storeroom. It’s got the name Pegasus upon it. Lower the ship, Pomp!”
The darky obeyed.
She soon reached the surface of the sea.
Frank took a boat hook and hoisted up the life-preserver.
A hunt was made about the vicinity for the man, but they did not find him.
It occurred to them that he was drowned.