THE ISLAND HARBOR
The great joy that the friends of Dave Fearless had experienced, at discovering him almost in reach, now gave way to great anxiety as he seemed lost to them again.
Bob Vilett was summoned to the engine room by his superior. Amos Fearless went back to the cabin, looking dejected and sad.
Captain Broadbeam fumed secretly. He paced the deck rapidly, going through considerable mental perturbation.
Pat Stoodles saw the expedition ashore abandoned.
He knew the captain's fiery moods and kept out of the way for a spell. When the Swallow turned her head directly north he approached Broadbeam.
"It's on your way you'd be going, captain dear?" mildly observed Stoodles.
"Don't you see I am?" challenged Broadbeam petulantly.
"It's disturbed ye are, I see," said the plausible Irishman. "Ochone, ye may well be. Wirra-wirra! that fine broth of a boy, Dave Fearless, abandoned to his fate. Deserted by his friends."
"Who's abandoning him, who's deserting him?" flamed out the captain.