Bill bent over and was astonished to see the red bed of glowing coals. “Well, I’ll be doggoned! That fire has hardly burned down at all.”
“Somebody has put coal in that range less than three hours ago. I don’t know anything about ships, but fires are another matter.”
“This yacht seems to be the original question mark,” said Bill gloomily. “But in spite of it, we do know three things.”
“That the people on board left in a hurry, and left not more than a couple of hours ago.—What’s the third?”
“Why, that they were so keen on hiding the name of this craft that they either destroyed or took with them everything that could identify her.”
“Yes, that’s so. It sure is confusing. Everything was all right on board at breakfast time, too.”
“How do you fathom that one?”
Osceola took up a large bowl from a table-rack. “Taste that.” He pointed to a cream-colored, doughy mass in the bottom.
Bill dipped in a forefinger and brought it to his mouth. “Wheat cakes!” he exclaimed. “You’ve got it. The cook doesn’t feed the men wheat cakes knowing the ship is going to be abandoned shortly. They’re too much trouble to make in a rush.”
“Exactly!” Osceola looked pleased.