The Motor Boys on the Atlantic; or, The Mystery of the Lighthouse

by Clarence Young

  CHAPTER XIX

  ADRIFT IN THE STORM

  "I guess it wouldn't be a bad plan to eat, and then point for home,"Sam observed. "Have we got any grub aboard?"

  "Plenty, trust Chunky for that," came from Ned. "Set it out, Bob."

  Bob went to the locker where the food was kept. As he opened it he gavea start.

  "What's the matter?" asked Jerry.

  "There's not much left," the fleshy youth replied. "I forgot to fillup the lockers last night, and we've been having several picnics thisweek."

  "I guess there's enough until we get home to supper," Ned put in,taking a look. "Of course there is, Chunky. You must be especiallyhungry."

  "I am," sighed the fat lad. "But I'll have to stand it, I suppose."

  There was just enough food and water for one meal, but no one worried.They were only seven miles from shore, and there was a number of boatsaround them.

  They ate their meal leisurely, and, when they had finished there was acan of sardines and a few crackers left.

  "Hello! Where are all the other boats?" exclaimed Jerry as he lookedabout. None was in sight.

  The sea was deserted, besides their own craft, only the forward part ofthe wreck was to be seen. The waves were still covered with floatingdebris.

  "I guess it's time we scooted," remarked the sailor. "The storm's goingto break sooner than I expected. The glass is falling rapidly. Put forshore, boys."

  Jerry went forward to start the engine, which had been stopped. Heturned the gasolene and spark levers, and Bob threw over the wheel.There was no answering explosion.

  "Once more," Jerry said.

  Again Bob turned. The wheel spun around under his efforts, but therewas no chug-chug.

  "Queer," muttered Jerry. "What's the trouble? She never acts like thisunless something's the matter. Ned, see if we have plenty of gasolene."

  Ned sounded the tank in the bow.

  "Well?" inquired Jerry, as Ned seemed to be at the operation longerthan was necessary.

  "There isn't any."

  "Isn't any?"

  "Not a drop! See!" and he held up the sounding stick. It was as dry asa bone, only the odor of the fluid clinging to it.

  "Why, it was full when we started! How could it get out?"

  "Well, it _is_ out," Ned replied.

  Jerry made an examination. As much of the tank as he could see did notappear to be damaged. He was at a loss to account for the disappearanceof the gasolene. He looked over the side and uttered an exclamation.

  "There's what did it!"

  "What?" asked Bob.

  Jerry pointed to a small iron rod which had pierced the bow of the_Dartaway_ from the outside. It had penetrated through the galvanizediron gasolene tank, and the fluid had run out into the ocean. There wasenough space around the iron, which was still in place, to allow thefluid to get out, but, as the rod had entered in an upward, slantingdirection the hole did not admit any sea water, so the boat did notleak.

  "How in the world did that get there?" asked Jerry, as he graduallyworked the rod out.

  "Must have stuck into us when we were at the wreck," put in Sam."That's just how it happened. Good thing it was no bigger."

  "Lucky the gasolene didn't all leak out until we got away from beingsucked down in the whirlpool," remarked Ned. "The rocking of the boathelped it run out."

  "Well, what are you going to do?" inquired Jerry.

  "Hoist some sort of a signal," advised Ned. "Otherwise we'll be hereall night."

  "All night!" exclaimed Bob. "And no grub! Oh, it makes me hungry tothink of it!"

  "Chunky, I would think for once you might let up on your everlastingappetite," came from Jerry a little sternly. "We are just as badly offas you are."

  "I can't help it, Jerry. Just think of it, only one can of sardinesamong four of us! Let's see, there are ten sardines in a can, that'stwo and a half each! Why, I've often eaten two whole boxes myself."

  "You'll be lucky if you ever eat again, sonny," said Sam, with ananxious look at the sky.

  "Are we in any danger?"

  "Well, of course we may come out all right, but shiver my timbers, Idon't like the looks of that bank of clouds over in the east. It'scoming on to blow, or I'm mistaken, and that's something which doesn'toften happen to Salt Water Sam."

  "What had we better do?" asked Jerry.

  "It might be a good plan to hoist a signal. After that we can getthings ship-shape, and wait. That's all."

  The _Dartaway's_ flag, upside down, a signal of distress, was fastenedto a boat-hook, that being the tallest pole they had, and fastened inthe bow. Then, under Sam's direction they fastened the awning welldown, and, with a bit of tarpaulin rigged up a small sail, by means ofsome boat-hooks.

  "We'll need steerage way," said the sailor, "and we haven't a drag thistime."

  "Had we better throw overboard some of this cargo?" asked Ned.

  "No, it's not heavy enough to do any harm, and it will make the boat alittle steadier," said the sailor.

  It was getting quite hazy by this time, and there was a curious calm tothe air, as though the storm was just waiting for the word to break inall its fury. The water had a strange oily look, and the waves rolledwithout the least bit of foam flying from their crests.

  The _Dartaway_ was the only craft in sight, save where a dull blotshowed that part of the wreck still clung to the rocks that had brokenher back. The other boats had long ago scudded for shelter. The shorecould not be discerned, and even the lighthouse, which was usuallyvisible for a long distance, was wiped out.

  There was nothing more to be done. Anxiously the boys scanned the oceanfor a sight of some craft that might tow them in. They had no means ofmoving, as there was no wind, as yet, and they had some time ago gotteninto the habit of leaving out a pair of oars with which most motorboats are provided to use in case of emergency. They had seldom neededthem, and they would have been of small service, anyway, as the craftwas too heavy to be propelled in that fashion at sea.

  "Well, we're as ready for it as we'll ever be," remarked Sam, when hehad seen for a second time to all the fastenings. "Let her come and getit over with."

  "Do you think we'd better eat now, or--or afterward?" came from Bob.

  "Chunky, if you mention grub again until we're safe ashore I'll throwyou overboard!" cried Jerry. He had seldom spoken so sharply, and ittold of the strain he was under.

  "There now," came soothingly from Sam. "Don't worry. If worst comesto worst we can live for several days on ten sardines. I was on a raftonce, afloat ten days, and all I had was a pair of boots, and one shoelace. That was hard lines! And we might eat the cat!"

  "Never!" cried the boys.

  An hour or more passed, with the _Dartaway_ drifting aimlessly onthe ocean, which was beginning to heave as if from the influence ofsome hidden power. It grew much darker, though it was only about fiveo'clock.

  "Do you s'pose the life-savers will see us?" asked Ned. "They have astation near here, where they came out from to rescue those from thewreck."

  "No chance of them seeing us this far out," said Sam. "They could seewhere the wreck was in the mist, as it sent up signal lights. But wehaven't any."

  "I'll always carry them after this," spoke Jerry.

  The inverted pennant of the boat fluttered a little in the breeze. Thehaze seemed to grow thicker. The sailor stood up and looked on allsides. Then he tightened the ropes holding the improvised sail, andmade it smaller in area, not by reefing it, for there was no way ofdoing that, but by setting it lower on the rigged "jury" mast. He alsotook down the ensign.

  "No need of losing that," he said, "and it's sure to go when the blowcomes. It can't be seen a quarter of a mile away now."

  Now, over the waters, came a strange, weird sound, as though some onehad blown on a big conch shell, miles away. It grew in volume until itfilled all the air. The boys looked about in wonder.

  "It's the wind! Here comes the storm!" cried Sam.

  An instant later the blast cam
e. It flattened down the heaving wavesfor a few seconds, and then blew off their tops in a spray of foam.

  The motor boat heeled over, as though it would capsize. Then the smallsail filled out. All at once the wind seemed to die away. But, a fewseconds later it came with increased fury.

  "It's shifted!" cried Sam. "We're being blown out to sea!"

  The _Dartaway_ spun around like a top, and scudded through the waves.