"That will bring us to St. Croix early this evening," said Jack, for
they had started in the morning. "We'll stay there all night, for I
don't much fancy motoring after dark in unknown waters."
"Neither do I," said Cora.
"And then there are the sharks!" murmured Belle.
"I won't let them get you!" said Walter, it such soothing tones as
one might use to a child. "The bad sharks sha'n't get little Belle,"
and he pretended to slip an arm about her.
"Stop it!" commanded the blonde twin, with a deep blush as she fairly
squirmed out of reach.
CHAPTER XX
ANXIOUS NIGHTS
Dusk had begun to settle over the harbor of Christianstad, or Bassin,
as the capital of St. Croix is locally known, when the anchor of the
Tartar was dropped into the mud. The boat had threaded its way
through a rather treacherous channel, caused by the then shallow
parts of the basin, and had come to rest not far from shore.
"What's the program?" asked Walter, as the motor ceased its
throbbing.
"We'll go ashore," said Jack, "and see what news we can learn. I'm
not very hopeful, but we may pick up something."
"Back here to sleep?" Walter went on, questioningly.
"Oh, sure. We want to start early in the morning. And from now on,
we'll have plenty of stopping places, for there are many small
islands where survivors from the wreck might have landed."
"Is there anything to see here ashore?" asked Bess.
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