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Moreover, since Sprague and Pete decided to take their boat to Big Duck Island, the trip to Rogers's must be made by land. "It will be safer for just one of us to go to Rogers's Island," said Mr. Daddles, "and he can look around after the Captain and the 'Hoppergrass. If he finds them, they can all sail over to Big Duck Island tonight or to-morrow morning and join us there.
"I'm looking for a boat," I said; "someone told me that it was here, this is Rogers's Island, isn't it?" "This is Rogers's Island, all right," he answered, "what kind of a boat is it you are looking for?" "She's a white cat-boat, the 'Hoppergrass', or the 'Hannah J. Pettingell', it's more likely that's her name." He looked at me inquiringly with his quick little eyes.
It was a lucky thing that the "Hoppergrass" was a large boat. When we started there were only four of us, counting Captain Bannister. But we kept picking up passengers unexpected ones until the Captain said "we'd have the whole County on board." It was not as bad as that, but we were glad before we came home again, that we had a comfortable cabin, with plenty of sleeping room.
He's been in Lanesport lately, hasn't he?" "Oh, yes. That's where he lost the 'Hoppergrass." "That's the man!" said he, "that's the man. Now, I tell you what. He isn't here now, but I expect he will be here tomorrow. You've heard about the excursion, of course?" "Yes, I read the hand-bills." "Well, I understand he is coming here tomorrow. Now, have you got to go back to Lanesport tonight?"
I had had a glimpse through the spy- glass, and thought I recognized Mr. Snider. We hauled the tender alongside, and Spook got in it to begin the towing. Just as he did so, and as I was standing outside the cock-pit, there came a sound above my head as if the air had been split open. "Wh-wh-whi-i-i-i-ing whip!" The sail of the "Hoppergrass" shivered and the halliards rattled.
The name was 'Hoppergrass. We thought there must be some funny business, a boat with two names, like that." "That's why the Captain had the crier call it the Hannah Pettingell," I reflected. "Well, we knew we were on the wrong boat," said Spike, "because Captain Bill Prendergast's is the 'Clara'." "B-B-But what could we d-d-d-do? We didn't d-dare to go b-back.
"The Hoppergrass." "The what's-that-you-say?" "Hoppergrass." "I never heard of no such boat." Mr. Daddles was silent. "Where's the boat, now?" "I don't know, she sailed away." The constable laughed. "You needn't think you can play it over me, with any such story as that, young feller." Justin had now returned from down stairs, and the constable ordered him and another man to conduct us all below.
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