“I say,” hailed Eph, “have you seen Mr. Benson and Mr. Hastings on shore!”
“No, sir,” replied the petty officer in charge.
Then one of the sailors in the boat spoke in an undertone.
“This man says, sir,” continued the petty officer, “that he saw your friends, sir, going aboard a white knockabout sloop.”
“He did, eh?” demanded the astonished Eph. “How long ago was that?”
“Only a few minutes ago, sir,” replied the sailor.
“You're sure you saw Mr. Benson and Mr. Hastings?”
“That's queer,” reflected Eph. “It wouldn't be like them to go sailing at this time of the night, and without notifying me, either. But, then, I didn't see anything of 'em aboard that sloop, either.”
Eph was silent for a few moments, thinking. Then, suddenly, he leaped up in the air, coming down flat-footed.