One of them fended off from the side of the Tartar, while the other
pulled on the oars. Soon they were on their way back, crossing the
stretch of now sullenly heaving water between the two craft.
"I find myself, under the direction of my commanding officer, Captain
Decker, obliged to ask for help," said Lieutenant Walling, with a
smile.
"Help?" repeated Jack, who, with Walter, had joined the group of
girls about the officer.
"Yes. We have had news that the Ramona has been seen in this
vicinity, and we were after her. But there was an accident to our
machinery, and we can't go on in the storm. The cutter was obliged
to put back when we sighted you.
"I suggested to Captain Decker that possibly you could give us the
very help we needed. You have an object in finding the Ramona, not
the same object as ourselves, but stronger, if anything," and the
lieutenant looked at Cora. She nodded her head in assent.
"So it occurred to me," Lieutenant Walling went on, "that I might
continue the chase in the Tartar. It is doubtful if our cutter could
manage to navigate in the storm we seem about to have, so we should
have been obliged to put back in any case, even if we had not had the
accident. But you can stand a pretty good blow,"' he said, referring
to the Tartar.
"She's a good little boat, all right," said Jack, who knew something
of motor craft.
"So I perceive.
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