Bart hesitated about taking
it, fearing a trick; but the man's intentions were honest. Having made
this advance, the way to an understanding was so fully paved that within
less than ten minutes thereafter both Frank and Hodge, having wrung out
their clothing in a contracted place below deck, were warming themselves
and trying to get dry by the cuddy stove, while Inza was rattling on
with the story of her adventures.
"I really don't know yet whether I am awake or dreaming!" said Bart.
"This about knocks everything I have ever seen!"
"Just fishermen," said Inza. "They would have picked you up, no doubt,
if they had seen you--they couldn't hear you; or if I had been able to
make them see you. It must have been an hour or more after that when I
found that they had writing-material in the little desk over there, and
I wrote them a note. But the fog was so thick then that it was no use
for them to make a search."
"Why didn't they run back to New York with you?"
"Simply because they thought they had done their duty by me, and that it
would pay them better to come out to the fishing-grounds and take me in
on their return. I promised them money, but----"
She laughingly held up a little purse.
"I had just ten cents in that, and you see I couldn't convince them of
the fabulous wealth of my father and my friends by exhibiting that.
Pages:
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257