I’m sorry,” muttered the man, as the Motor Rangers’ vessel drew in close alongside, “but I couldn’t help myself.”
“Couldn’t help yourself?” echoed the scientist, still angry. “How was that, pray?”
“Why, I felt my schooner being drawn in toward the islands. If I hadn’t ‘cut stick’ when I did, we’d all have been lost, and I don’t see how that would have helped you.”
This answer mollified the professor somewhat.
“So now you are in distress?” he said.
“Yes. We have run short of water. Can’t those kids let us have some?”
“You’ll have to ask ‘those kids,’ as you call them,” said the professor, with some disgust.
“How much do you want?” asked Nat, who felt less and less liking for the captain of the Tropic Bird.
“Oh, a few gallons will do. I know an island not more than a day’s sail from here, where I can refill my tanks.”
At this point, another man – a short, stout fellow, like the captain – came bustling up.
“Hullo, there, professor!” he hailed in an impudent voice. “So you came out all right, after all. Are you coming on board?”
“I am coming on board to get my things, Mr. Durkee,” was the response, “but I am not going to continue my voyage on the Tropic Bird.”
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.
