"Perhaps we can," answered the little villain; but there was not much of his usual elasticity of spirits in his tones.
Ibbotson had no faith, and did not even care to talk about what seemed to him such an impracticable scheme. At four bells they were relieved, and the night wore away without any incident. All the following day the Josephine kept in about the same position with regard to the shore, running rapidly to the southward. Mr. Fluxion "made no sign," and the acting officers were as reticent as ever.
"Perth, I have an idea," said Little, as they met on deck.
"So have I," replied the disgusted leader of the runaways. "I have an idea that we are going round the world. This is our third day out, and no signs of turning back."
"I mean that I have a plan."
"You always have a plan," added Perth, with a sickly grin.
"If you don't want to hear it, all right; but I mean to get out of this scrape, if I can."
"So do I. If we don't do something we shall be the laughing-stock of the whole ship's company, if we ever join them again, of which I have some doubts. Lowington has hauled us up to the bull-ring this time, if he never did before. He has the weather-gage of us."
"That's so."
"If you have a plan, let's hear it."