“Do you think we’ll be away over night?” asked Bill.
“I shouldn’t be surprised,” answered Lester. “Maybe we’ll be gone for more than one. It’s a pretty stiff sail up there, and we may have to do a good deal of tacking on the way back. Then, too, Mark may not be in when we get there, and we may have to wait till he gets back.”
“What kind of a fellow is this Taylor, anyhow?” asked Fred. “Has he any family?”
“No, he lives all alone in a little cabin down near the beach. Spends his time fishing and doing odd jobs. He’s a little wizened-up fellow. He’s fond of talking, and all we’ll have to do is to get him started and he’ll do the rest. I only hope we’ll find him in condition to talk.”
“What do you mean by that?” asked Teddy.
“Mark is a little too fond of a black bottle that he keeps in his cabin,” explained Lester. “But he’s usually sober in the daytime, and if we get to him before night, he’ll be all right.”
The boys went down to the little dock where the Ariel was riding. They had all grown more or less expert in handling her since their arrival at the 111 Shoals, and in a very short time they had her ready for the trip.
“I wonder if Uncle Aaron has got my letter yet,” remarked Teddy, as he helped Bill pull up the anchor.
“Not yet,” replied his brother, “but he’s sure to get it before the day is over.”
“I’d like to see his face when he reads it,” chuckled Teddy.