“There’s some mystery about it,” said Joy, shaking his head doubtfully.
“Maybe crew all dead below,” suggested Trolley.
“Ow-w! Let’s go back to the launch!” cried Nanny, eying the conning tower apprehensively. “I don’t want to be where there are lots of dead men.”
“Nonsense! it wouldn’t make any difference if the craft was loaded with them,” replied Clif. “We can throw them overboard, can’t we? Now that the Monongahela has apparently abandoned us to our fate”—he glanced at the distant horizon—“we’ve got to make the best of things. We must find something to eat——”
Trolley rubbed his stomach yearningly.
“And some water——”
Judson wet his parched lips with his tongue.
“And also a better and more seaworthy craft than the launch.”
“But we can sail the launch,” remarked Joy.
“That’s true enough, and we may do it after all, but now we must see about food and water.”