As much as possible was done on Saturday, but the next day was an idle
one, as far as the search was concerned. Bart and the boys waited with
great impatience, and finally on Monday morning they left once more in
the Antelope. It was about five o'clock in the morning, the tide was
in their favor, and, though there was a head wind, yet be fore the turn
of tide they were anchored a good distance down the bay.
"My idee is this," said Captain Corbet. "I'll explore the hull bay in
search of that driftin boy. I'll go down this side, cross over, and
come up on t'other. We'll go down here first, an not cross over till
we get as fur as Quoddy Head. I think, while we air down thar, I'll
call at Eastport an ask a few questions. But I must say it seems a
leetle too bad to have the fog go on this way. If this here had ony
happened a fortnight ago, we'd have had clear weather an fair winds.
It's too bad, I declar."
They took advantage of the next tide to go down still farther, and by
twelve o'clock on Monday night they were far down. Since leaving St.
John they had seen nothing whatever, but they had heard occasionally
the fog horns of wandering schooners, and once they had listened to the
yell of a steamer's whistle.
"I've allus said," remarked Captain Corbet, "that in navigatin this
here bay, tides is more important than winds, and anchors is more
important than sails. That's odd to seafarin men that ain't acquainted
with these waters, but it air a oncontrovartible fact. Most of the
distressin casooalties that happen hereabouts occur from a ignorance of
this on the part of navigators. They WILL pile on sail. Now, in clar
weather an open sea, pile it on, I say; but in waters like these,
whar's the use? Why, it's flyin clar in the face of Providence. Now
look at me--do I pile on sail? Not me. Catch me at it! When I can git
along without, why, I git. At the same time, I don't think you'll find
it altogether for the good of your precious health, boys, to be a movin
about here in the fog at midnight. Better go below. You can't do no
good a settin or a standin up here, squintin through a darkness that
might be felt, an that's as thick as any felt I ever saw. So take my
advice, an go below, and sleep it off."
It was impossible to gainsay the truth of Captain Corbet's remarks, and
as it was really midnight, and the darkness almost as thick as he said,
the boys did go below, and managed to get to sleep in about a minute
and a half after their heads touched the pillows.
Before they were awake on the following day the anchor was hoisted, and
the Antelope was on her way again.
"Here we air, boys," said the captain, as they came on deck, "under
way--the Antelope on her windin way over the mounting wave, a
bereasting of the foamin biller like all possessed. I prophesy for
this day a good time as long as the tide lasts."
"Do you think we'll get to Eastport harbor with this tide?"