Page:Dave Porter on Cave Island.djvu/202

188 "Something is going on!" cried the senator^s son, as he noticed an unusual crowd congregated. "Must be news of some sort."

"Let us find out what it is!" returned our hero, quickly.

"The Emma Brower has been heard from," said a man, standing near. "That's the vessel that was missing, don't you know," he added.

"What of her?" asked Dave.

"Went down in that terrible storm we had about ten days ago."

"Down!" gasped all of the boys, while Captain Sanders looked the concern he felt.

"So they say. I do not know the particulars," went on the man as he walked away.

It did not take the boys and the captain long to get into the shipping office and there they learned as many of the particulars as were known. A tramp steamer from Porto Rico had come in bringing word that she had sighted portions of a wreck while out at sea, and an investigation proved the same to belong to the Emma Brower. A portion of a small boat had been picked up, but nothing had been seen of sailors or passengers.

"Where was this?" questioned Dave, when he could get the chance.

"The captain of the steamer says about two miles west of Cave Island."