We've got to go one way or another."
The rougher water outside was making the _Adventurer_ dip and roll. "As
far as I can see, Phil's theory is as good as another, or maybe better.
Shall we try going north, fellows?"

No one answered until, after a moment's silence, Perry remarked
philosophically: "I don't believe we'll ever see her again, but we can't
stop here, and we were going northward anyhow."

Murmurs of agreement came from the others. The only dissentient voice
was Bert Alley's. "_I_ don't see your argument," he said. "If I had swiped
the _Follow Me_ I'd hike out for New York or some place like that and
run her into some little old hole until I could either change her looks
or sell her."

"And be nabbed on the way," said Joe.

"Not if I stayed at sea."

"But you couldn't stay at sea if you had only twelve gallons of gasoline
aboard. Wherever she's going, she will have to put in for gas before
long." Phil stared thoughtfully at the chart. "I'll allow," he went on,
"that she may have gone any other direction but north. For that matter,
she may be anchored just around the corner somewhere. It's all more or
less guesswork. But, looking at the probabilities, and they're all we've
got to work on, I think north is the likeliest trail for us to take."

"Right-o," said Steve, turning the wheel and pointing the boat's slim
bow toward Gurnet Point, "We've got to take a chance, fellows, and this
looks like the best. In the morning we'll get busy with the telegraph
and tell our troubles, but just now the best we can do is keep a sharp
lookout and try to think we're on the right course. I'm going to speed
her up, Joe, so you might dab some more oil and grease around your old
engine."

"All right. You fellows will have to clear out of here, though, while I
get this hatch up. Some of you might go forward and keep your eyes
peeled. I don't suppose, however," he added as he pulled the engine
hatch up, "that they'll show any lights on her."

"Not likely to," agreed Harry Corwin. "They'll run dark, probably, until
they get near a harbour. Look for anything like a boat, fellows. It's a
mighty good thing we've got this moonlight."

"Yes, and we'll have to make hay while the moon shines," added Wink
Wheeler as he climbed out of Joe's way, "for it won't last much longer.
It'll be as dark as pitch by one or two o'clock, I guess."

"Well, we've got a searchlight," said Perry.

"There's no need for more than three of us to st