Finally: "There
was a launch answerin' to that description stopped here about"--he gazed
at the sun--"about two hours ago, I cal'ate. She was black, but she
didn't have no name on her so far as I could see. I sold 'em thirty
gallons o' gas an' they went on out toward the bar."
"Who was on her?" asked Steve quickly.
"Two or three men I never seen before. Three, I cal'ate there was. She
wasn't here very long. They come up to the house an' got me up from the
breakfast table. Said they was in a hurry. Come to think on it, boys, I
believe they'd painted the name out on the stern. They ain't stolen her,
have they?"
"That's just what they have done," answered Steve. "Shove off, Han!
Thank you, sir. About two hours ago, you say?"
"Might be a little less than two hours. Well, I hope you get her. I
didn't much like the looks of the fellers aboard her."
"Where do you think they'd take her?" called Joe as the boat swung her
stern around.
"I dunno. They might switch around into the Essex River, or they might
take her in Ipswich way, or they might head straight for Newburyport. If
they wanted to hide her I cal'ate they might run in behind Plum Island
somewheres."
"Sounds pretty hopeless," said Steve as the _Adventurer_ took up her way
again.
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