Then another sound came from his berth. Dawson was snoring.

CHAPTER XIV-HEADED FOR THE SUNKEN REEF

Szz-zz! Sputter! And the fragrance of it, too!

"Say, you fellows; aren't you ever going to wake up?"

Jed Prentiss had his hand on Joe, shaking him.

"Have you any idea what time it is?" insisted Jed, as Dawson opened his eyes halfway.

"Time to go to bed again," muttered Joe, trying to shake off that insistent hand and rolling over the other way.

"It's after noon," p.r.o.nounced Prentiss. "Say, you fellows could sleep a week through!" And Jed gave Joe a hearty shake. "I told you breakfast is ready."

"No, you didn't," insisted Joe.

"I've told you so three times in the last five minutes," a.s.serted Jed, "but you wouldn't wake up long enough to understand. Can't you get it through your head? _Breakfast!_"

"Whatcher got?" asked Joe drowsily.

"Coffee!"

"Had that yesterday," protested Joe, settling himself as though for another doze.

"And bacon and eggs!"

"Had that three days ago," complained Joe.

"And fried potatoes," went on Jed.

"They'll keep."

"m.u.f.fins!" proclaimed Jed solemnly.

At that Dawson opened his eyes wide.

"Are they sticky inside or your best kind, browned all over the top?"

Joe asked with a show of interest.

"Browned?" echoed Jed. "Say, they're beauties-the best I ever baked. And I've opened a tin of preserved pineapple to top off with."

"I guess maybe I'll get up," admitted Joe.

"You'd better, if you don't want to find everything cold and tasteless,"

insisted Jed, who thereupon went over to shake Halstead.

But Tom slipped up instantly, reaching for his swimming tights. Soon a splash was heard over the side. Joe followed him. Both felt more awake when they came back to towel down. As they dressed the savory smells of Jed's best breakfast made them hurry.

"I'd sooner have you wake me up, Jed, than some folks I know," announced Joe Dawson, as he pa.s.sed his plate for the second helping of bacon, eggs and fried potatoes.

"It _does_ taste good," Halstead admitted with a relish, chewing hard.

"But has there been any news from the house this morning?"

"Haven't seen a soul, except you sleepers," Jed answered.

"How did you wake up, anyway!" demanded Joe suspiciously. "Alarm clock at your head?"

"Yes," a.s.sented Prentiss. "But it really woke me up. That's more than it could do for you fellows."

By the time they had that famous breakfast down all felt better. Tom and Joe adjourned to the deck, where Jed joined them as soon as he had washed the dishes and cleaned up.

"Here comes Mr. Dunstan now," announced Joe presently.

All turned to look at the boat's owner. Mr. Dunstan appeared to have aged greatly after his night's vigil. His face was furrowed by care; he walked with a greater stoop than before.

"Poor fellow," sighed Halstead. "And there are only twenty-four hours left for finding the Dunstan heir."

"No news, I take it, sir?" hailed Tom, as the owner stepped upon the pier and came toward the boat.

"None, since the word Mr. Musgrave sent me last night of your exploits,"

murmured Horace Dunstan, shaking his head sadly. "And to think that my boy has spent days aboard that ugly craft," he added, gazing wistfully at the yellow-hulled launch at anchor a few rods away. Then he turned once more to the young skipper.

"How are you and your friends, Halstead? Very tired?"

"I don't believe we're so weary that you'd notice it unless you looked very hard," smiled Halstead.

"If you're not too much used up by last night's work I have a favor to ask of you. But it's not an order, understand?"

"Why, what can it be, Mr. Dunstan?"

"Well, you see," continued the owner apologetically, "before this trouble happened we had invited Mrs. Lester and her two young daughters to spend a fortnight with us. They had not heard of our misfortune, and so they came over on this morning's boat. They heard in Nantucket and telephoned us, proposing to turn about and go home again. But of course we insisted that they should come to us. They are going to church, this evening, but Mrs. Dunstan is so much upset over the mystery surrounding our son that-that-well, we thought of proposing that they use the 'Meteor' for a little sail this afternoon. That is, in case you young men are not too tired to--"

"Why, of course we can take the boat out," replied Halstead, breaking in upon the considerate owner. "It won't tire us any more than lolling around the pier."

"Mrs. Dunstan and I will both be greatly pleased if you will do it,"

declared Horace Dunstan gratefully.

"But do you think any developments from sh.o.r.e will make it necessary to get the 'Meteor' on the jump over to Wood's Hole?" broke in Joe.

"You might keep the boat within sight of our flagpole," replied Mr.

Dunstan. "That will allow you to sail some miles away if you use the gla.s.s every few minutes. In case we want you to return here in haste we'll hoist one red pennant. If we want you to make full speed for Wood's Hole, without first returning here, we'll hoist two red pennants.

In the latter case you can land Mrs. Lester and her daughters and they can go to the hotel at Wood's Hole until your work with the boat is done. Then you can bring them back."

"That'll all be clear and easy," nodded Tom. "Well, sir, we're ready when you are."