He was not, ordinarily, an imaginative youth, but just now the gruesome
thought that had entered his mind persisted there.
He began to pace the platform deck in deep agitation.
"Anything wrong, sir?" questioned the marine sentry, halting and throwing
his rifle over to port arms.
"That's just what I'd give a million dollars and ten cents to know!"
exploded Eph.
"Gunboat, ahoy!" he shouted, some twenty seconds later.
"'Farnum,' ahoy!"
"I half believe, sir," Eph rattled on, "that my two comrades, Mr. Benson
and Mr. Hastings have been tricked, in some way, and carried out to sea on
that knockabout. They'd have been back from shore by this time, if nothing
had happened."
"What do you want to do, Mr. Somers?"
"Want to do, sir?" retorted Eph. "I know what I'm going to do. I'm going
to slip moorings and chase after that knockabout. What I wish to know from
you, sir, is whether you'll send another marine or two on board, so that I
can back up my demand to find my friends?"
"I'll have to ask the lieutenant commander about that, Mr. Somers."
"Can you do it, now, sir?" asked Eph, energetically.
"Instantly. I'll let you know the decision as soon as it's made.
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