Too bad! Not a word could be understood.
Bob saw the megaphone lowered, then waved in the air. The people, cabins, rails, life-boats, ropes and tackle—every little object looked so exasperatingly near—and yet they could not hope to learn what Mr. Lovell had said. The "Evergreen State" was already forging ahead.
"What does it mean?" gasped Dick, with a wild fear that something was destined to prevent them from continuing their trip.
"Mean?" howled Tim, savagely. "Why, you can just bet your boots that Uncle Stanley has heard something—all Jacky's doin's—he never expected to go on that boat; I know he didn't—"
"And he'll try to meet us," interposed Sam, "and—and—"
They stared gloomily at each other, quite forgetting the presence of the steersman and the curious glances he turned toward them.
"Bring out that plank!" cried Dick. "I hate to use the 'Osprey' for such a purpose, but let the ancient custom be revived."
"Is it fur the tall un to walk?" The man grinned. "What has he went an' done, lad?"
Dick turned sharply around.
"Why, he—he—"