“And you came over with Captain Hastings?”
“Yes, sir. We got caught in the storm out here around the point and we couldn’t get back to the Gadabout, so the mate just let our skiff drive before the wind and the boat was stove in when we finally landed in that little cove out yonder.”
“Where is the mate now?”
“We don’t know. He went ahead of us and the first thing we knew he disappeared from sight.”
“Was he on shore here?”
“Yes, sir, we landed, as I told you, in that little cove and while we were getting ashore we lost the mate. We don’t know where he went.”
“And you say there were others with you?”
“Yes, sir,” explained Fred, “there were two other boys and they went out with the captain.”
“What happened to them in the storm?”
“We don’t know. We wish we did,” said John soberly.