Page:Fairview Boys at Lighthouse Cove.djvu/117

Rh "Now for the place where the crew live!" cried Sammy.

"The fo'cas'le!" exclaimed Frank. "I should think you'd know that by this time, Sammy."

But they found nothing in the quarters where the crew ate and slept to explain the mystery. Things were not as nice there as in the cabin, but there was no disorder that would show a hasty flight from the ship. The boys went to the galley, which is the kitchen of a ship, but as they found a big coal range there, and did not want to kindle a fire in that, they decided to get their meals in their own small boat, on the oil stove.

They had now made an inspection of the Mary Ellen, and they knew no more about her than at first. It was all a strange mystery of the sea.

"We're going along some," said Frank, as he looked over the side.

A little breeze had sprung up, and, now that the sails of the schooner were set to catch the wind, she went ahead through the waves, pulling the motor boat after her.

"Hadn't we better steer?" asked Bob.

"No, we can tie the wheel fast, while we eat," said Frank. "She'll steer herself then, and we won't have to bother."

"Which way shall we steer?" asked Bob.

"Straight ahead, I say," remarked Frank, who seemed to have taken command. "We don't know where we are, and we don't know which way land is, so one direction is as good as another. It will be easier to steer straight ahead, and we may sight land that way, as well as if we set the rudder to right or left."

To this his chums agreed, and soon the wheel was tied fast, or "lashed" to use the proper sea term. Then the boys pulled on the rope attached to the motor boat, and brought the Skip alongside. They could easily get on her raised cabin deck