There was a terrible storm, you know,
and she may have foundered."
"No, she did not. We have good evidence of that," was the officer's
answer. "She had a hard time in the hurricane, and suffered some
damage, Miss, but she's sound and able to navigate. We heard that
some of the crew, who would not join with the mutineers, were
marooned--I am glad to get confirmation of that," and he nodded at
Ben, whose story had been briefly told.
"But what of the passengers?" asked Bess, anxiously. "Oh, did you
hear anything of father and mother?"
"Not personally, I am sorry to say," was the answer of the lieutenant
as he touched his cap, and smiled at the eager girl.
"But did you hear anything?" asked, Cora, for somehow she fancied she
detected a tone as though the officer would have been glad to answer
no further.
"Well, Yes, Miss, I did," he was the somewhat reluctant reply. "The
story goes that all the passengers are still aboard."
"Still on board!" echoed Jack. "Why, I thought they were also
marooned."
"Evidently not," said the lieutenant. "Either the storm must have
made them change their plans, or the mutineers were afraid of
evidence being given against them by the passengers, for they kept
them aboard, according to the latest reports we have had.
"After living through the hurricane, the Ramona was headed for a
quiet harbor, where the smugglers have their headquarters, and there
repairs were made.
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