CHAPTER XXIX
“DERELICT AHOY!”
Ned Slade and Dr. Hallet were aboard one of the rescuing warships.There was a time, just before the wireless of the _Sherman_ wasreëstablished, when it seemed to Ned that he was going to learnDr. Hallet’s secret, and when he felt that he could be on terms offriendship with the eccentric doctor--who was not a physician, but adoctor of science.
However, since the two had been transferred to the same warship therehad been a complete change in Dr. Hallet. Far from seeking a chanceto maintain friendly relations with Ned, the doctor avoided the MotorBoy and remained in seclusion. Nor did he send any word or give anyexplanation of what he had started to say as to his relations withProfessor Snodgrass.
As a matter of fact, after a few glimpses of Dr. Hallet, followingtheir transfer from the _Sherman_, the Motor Boy did not again see thescientist. The latter, Ned learned, was busy over his notebooks andmemoranda, which he had brought with him, together with his fleas andother specimens from the troopship.
“I can’t understand it,” said Ned to a soldier chum. “He was justgetting friendly with me when we were in the midst of our troubles, andnow, when we’re safe, he doesn’t speak to me.”
“Why don’t you go to him and ask for a showdown?” inquired Sam Harden,the lad with whom Ned was becoming chummy.
“I’ve tried to, but he won’t see me. And I can’t very well force myselfon him. I don’t know any of the officers who are on board well enoughto go to them and tell them all that’s happened. They might laugh atme, and Dr. Hallet might turn ugly again, as he can on occasion.”
“Do you really think he tried to damage the _Sherman_?” asked Harden.
“No, I can’t say that I do--now,” Ned confessed. “But he surely did actqueer. And why he should hate, or pretend to hate, Professor Snodgrassis more than I can fathom.
“But there’s nothing I can do, I suppose, except wait. If we ever findJerry, Bob, and the professor I may get an explanation. And I certainlydo hope we find them!”
“Same here!” echoed his new chum. “They’re making a good search of it.”
This was true. The three warships which were carrying home the troopstransferred from the _Sherman_ kept together and in a sort of lineswept forward over the sea, cruising about in search of the derelictor for a possible sight of refugees drifting on wreckage. To this endsearchlights were kept aglow all night, and soldiers or sailors wereconstantly on watch during the twenty-four hours.
Meanwhile life aboard the _Altaire_ was far from being dangerous now.The attack of the whales had done no harm, and in the broad daylightJerry rather wondered whether they had not acted foolishly in firingthe bow gun at the creatures.
“I don’t really believe they could have rammed us hard enough to havedone any damage,” he said.
“Well, it certainly felt so,” declared Bob.
“And I’m just as glad we drove them away,” said Judd.
As for Professor Snodgrass, he said little. He was too much occupied inclassifying and making notes of the various forms of life he found onthe bunch of seaweed he had brought on board with him.
Aside from attending now and then to the rude sail that had beenhoisted, and steering the craft, which did not require much effort,as she did not move rapidly, there was nothing to do on the derelictexcept, as Bob said, “to get meals and eat ’em.”
Of course the distress signals were kept flying by day, and thelanterns at night gave notice to whoever might glimpse them that theywere carried by a craft which needed help for those on board. Andoutside of seeing that these signals and lights were kept in place,there was nothing that could be done.
It was utterly impossible for the four to start the engines. Thesmall sail was their only motive power. There was no need of usingthe steam pumps, for the _Altaire_ was not leaking save in one or twocompartments, and the water-tight bulkheads kept the sea from invadingother parts of the craft. Even had it been necessary to get steam upfor the pumps, it is doubtful if it could have been managed.
All they could do was to wait and hope, and this was wearying enoughafter the first week.
Each morning they began a vigil that lasted all day, and even into thenight, for they knew the lights of an approaching vessel could be seenfarther after dark than could the form of the ship itself during theday. But they sighted nothing.
It was more than a week after the crash which resulted in theseparation of the Motor Boys when, on a wonderfully clear day, alookout aboard the war craft containing Ned sent forth a thrilling cryfrom the crow’s nest.
“Derelict ahoy!” he shouted.
“Where away?”
“Dead ahead!”
And then Ned and the others, rushing to vantage points, saw the_Altaire_.
There she was, slowly rolling to and fro on a gentle swell, and nosooner had officers and sailors of the rescuing vessel caught sight ofher than they raised a cry of:
“Some one’s on board!”
The distress signals told that.
And about the same time Jerry, Bob, the professor, and Judd, grouped atthe rail, were frantically waving their hands and shouting. For theyhad seen the oncoming war craft, and knew that they were saved.
The weary search was over.