"Do you think we could find her?" asked Ned.

"I think so," answered Mr. Blowitz. "I made some particular inquiries
of the captain of the fishing smack, whom I saw to-day, and I got her
longitude and latitude, as near as he could give it to me. Of course
it would be a rather hard search, and might consume considerable time,
but I would be willing to pay for that. What I want to know is, if you
boys would care to go out in that boat, the Ripper, and search for the
derelict? If you find her I will pay you prize money."

"If we found her, and she was quite a way out to sea, how would we get
her in?" asked Jerry.

"You could tow her, unless there was a bad storm. That motor boat is
very powerful."

"Then there isn't anyone on board now?" asked Bob.

"Not a living soul," answered the man. "It's queer how they came to
desert her, but I guess the captain and crew got scared and went off
in a hurry, without making a proper investigation. The brig is a small
one, and if she hit on a rock, or was in a collision, it would not
take much to knock her out.

"Now here is my proposition. You are to take the Ripper, get her in
good shape for the cruise, and start out. The sooner the better. I
will pay all expenses, such as for provisions and supplies. If you
return with the brig I will pay you two thousand dollars. If you don't
succeed in finding her, after say a two weeks' search, you are to