Page:Dave Porter on Cave Island.djvu/200

186 "Let us go down to the docks and find out about this."

They lost no time in visiting the docks and the shipping offices. There they learned that nothing had been heard of the Emma Brower since the vessel had left Jacksonville.

"We must have passed her on the way!" cried Dave, to Captain Sanders. "Could we do that?"

"Perhaps, since we only had half a cargo, Dave. Besides, maybe that vessel was damaged by the storm."

"I wonder how soon she will get in?" mused Roger.

At this the captain shrugged his shoulders.

"It is impossible to say. I've known a ship to be a week and sometimes nearly a month overdue. And I've known a ship to drop out altogether," he added, soberly.

"Oh, don't say you think she has gone down!" cried Dave, in alarm.

"Let us hope not, Dave."

The day passed, and also the next ajid the next. The cargo of the Golden Eagle was unloaded, and the Englishmen, who had been passengers, left for parts unknown. As each day slipped by, Dave grew more serious. What if the Emma Brower had gone down, carrying Merwell, Jasniff, and the Carwith jewels with her?