Page:Cruise of the Dry Dock.djvu/202

 “They are wonderful like, sir,” observed Gaskin.

“Anyway we'll look her over.”

The men agreed and began scattering away, two by two for companionship. Presently from the port side Hogan raised his voice guardedly.

“Oh, Misther Madden, just stip this way a moment, if you plaze.”

The call instantly attracted several other men. They moved across deck. Hogan was pointing. “Jist th' same as th' other wan,” he said gloomily and significantly. “We knew it would be this way, sir. It was th' same hand as done it.”

Leonard looked with rising dismay at the sinister parallel.

The Vulcan also was lying at sea anchor.

In brief, here was conclusive proof that the tug had been abandoned deliberately and with forethought by Malone, Captain Black and the whole Vulcan crew. Moreover, as in the case of the Minnie B, they had deserted their ship without taking a boat or even so much as a life buoy.

The amazed group of men collected about