No more thorough search could have been made. Every nook and cranny of
the schooner was searched, but at last Eph was obliged to admit that
the man he sought was not aboard.
"My apologies to everyone for all trouble caused," declared Ensign
Somers. "I trust you will find it easy to believe that I have only been
following my orders; and, therefore, doing my duty."
"You couldn't have done less, Ensign," replied Dr. Barnard, courteously.
"You couldn't have been more courteous."
"Are we at liberty to proceed on our way, sir?" asked Captain Walford,
as the young acting ensign went over the side.
"I shall have to ask you to take the signal for that from the 'Sudbury,'"
Eph answered.
On the gunboat's quarter deck, following Ensign Somers's report, there
was an anxious conference.
"If this is the craft we've been following all the time," muttered
Jack Benson, "we've a lot of hunting yet ahead of us."
"Shall I signal the schooner permission to proceed, sir?" asked Ensign
Fullerton.
"By all means."
Darkness came down over the ocean while Lieutenant Jack was sending a
wireless despatch through the air to the Navy Department.
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