CHAPTER XVII

THE STRANGE SHIP “Look at that, fellows!” exclaimed Ted Scott with a catch in his breath, pointing to the lonely voyager in those desolate seas. The young aviator’s companions stared as though they could not believe their senses. “A mirage, maybe!” exclaimed Mark. “Mirage nothing!” objected Jack. “That’s a real ship.” “The _Gray Cloud_, for a thousand dollars!” declared Ted. “At any rate, what’s the use of conjecturing? I’m going to find out, pronto!” The ship was like a child’s toy out on the water. For some time,…