The Motor Boys on the Pacific

The Motor Boys on the Pacific

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Title: The Motor Boys on the Pacific
Author: Clarence Young
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THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE PACIFIC
or
The Young Derelict Hunters
by CLARENCE YOUNG
PREFACE
DEAR BOYS:
I believe it is not necessary to introduce the Motor Boys to most of my
readers, as they have made their acquaintance in the previous books of
this series. To those, however, who take up this volume without having
previously read the ones that go before, I take pleasure in presenting
my friends, Jerry, Ned and Bob.
They are booked for quite a long trip, this time; across the continent to
the Pacific coast, where they are destined to have some stirring
adventures, searching for a mysterious derelict.
Those of you who know the Motor Boys from their past performances
know that they will meet emergencies in the right spirit, and that they
will do their level best to accomplish what they set out to do. Whether

they did so in this case I leave it for you to determine by reading the
book.
Though their own motor boat, the Dartaway, was destroyed in a train
wreck, they managed to get the use of a powerful craft, in which they
made a cruise on the Pacific ocean. Their old friend, Professor
Snodgrass was with them, and, if you care to learn of his search for a
horned toad, you will find the details set down here.
Yours very truly,
CLARENCE YOUNG.
_________________________________________________________
________
CHAPTER I
SOME BAD NEWS
"WELL, she is smashed this time, sure!" exclaimed Jerry Hopkins, to
his chums, Ned Slade and Bob Baker.
"What's smashed?" asked Ned. "Who's the letter from'?" for Jerry had a
slip of paper in his hand.
"It isn't a letter. It's a telegram."
"A telegram!" exclaimed Bob. "What's up, Jerry?"
"She's smashed, I tell you. Busted, wrecked, demolished, destroyed,
slivered to pieces, all gone!"
"Who?"
"Our motor boat, the Dartaway!"
"Not the Dartaway!" and Ned and Bob crowded closer to Jerry.
"That's what she is. There's no mistake about it this time, I'm afraid.

You know we thought once before she had gone to flinders, but it
wasn't so. This time it is."
"How did it happen?" asked Ned.
"Yes, tell us, can't you?" cried Bob. "What are you so slow about?"
"Say, Chunky," remarked Jerry, looking at his fat chum, "if you'll give
me a chance I'll tell you all I know. I just got this telegram from the
Florida Coast Railway Company. It says:
"'Jerry Hopkins. Motor boat Dartaway, shipped by you from. St.
Augustine in freight wreck just outside Jacksonville. Boat total loss,
buried under several freight cars. Will write further particulars. J. H.
Maxon, General Freight Agent."
"That's all there is to it," added Jerry, folding up the telegram.
"All there is to it! I guess not much!" exclaimed Bob. "Aren't you going
to sue 'em for damages, Jerry?"
"Well, there's no use being in such a rush," observed Jerry. "Maybe
they'll pay the claim without a suit. I'll have to make some inquiries."
"Let's go down to the freight once here and see Mr. Hitter," suggested
Ned. "He can tell us what to do. The poor Dartaway! Smashed!"
"And in a land wreck, too!" put in Jerry. "It wouldn't be so bad if she
had gone down on the Atlantic, chasing after a whale, or in pursuit of a
shark--"
"Or with the flag flying, out in a storm, with Salt Water Sam,"
interrupted Ned. "But to think of her being buried under