Once, hours later, Bob awoke with the notion that some one had called him. But what he had heard was only Tom talking in his dreams.
“I have lost my ticket,” said Tom very distinctly, “but I wish to go to Steamboat Wharf.”
CHAPTER XVI—WITNESSES A DEFEAT FOR THE VAGABOND
Breakfast was over and the crew of the Vagabond were gathered around the chart which lay spread open on the cabin roof. It was foggy again this morning, but the sunlight filtered through the gray mist, lending warmth and color and promise of better things.
“She’ll clear up before noon,” Nelson had oracularly declared a moment before. “We’ll clean up the launch this morning and go on to Newport after luncheon.”
“There seems to be two ways of going,” said Bob. “We can go through between the mainland and Nonamesset Island or we can run down and around the end of Cuttihunk. It looks like an even thing as far as distance is concerned.”
“Well, if it clears up nicely,” answered Nelson, “suppose we take the outside route. We don’t have to go around Cuttihunk, though, Bob; if you’ll look at the chart you’ll find there’s a fair passage for small boats between Naushon and Pasque, and between Pasque and Nashawena there’s a good mile of clear water called Quicks Hole.”
“Yes, I see,” said Bob. “Let’s go through Quicks Hole.”
“Nonsense,” exclaimed Dan, pushing Bob aside. “What we want to do is to make for Nonamesset, leaving Uncatena on the starboard bow, head so’so’west for Penikese, keeping Woepecket on the weather rail, whatever that is, bear south off the no’east corner of Nashawena, give Cuttihunk the cold shoulder, dip our colors to Naushon, run through Canapitset Cut and drop anchor in Quamquisset for five o’clock tea!”
“Help!” yelled Nelson.