"Thank heaven you saw me!" exclaimed Ted Long as he feebly helped make fast his battered yawl to the chartered fishing boat containing Nancy, Ned, George and Bess.
Nancy reached over the side and assisted the bedraggled yachtsman aboard.
Long staggered into the shade of the cabin. He removed his cap to wipe the perspiration from his brow, revealing a bald, freckled head.
"Drink this," said Nancy, holding out a cup of water.
Long gulped it frantically, asked for a second, and when he had downed it, told of his ordeal.
"Bill Smith and I were sailing for Deception Island when the storm hit us. The sails, rudder, and radio went in the first five minutes. We barely managed to keep afloat.
"We drifted five days, lost. Three days ago our fresh water supply gave out. Bill went crazy with the heat and thirst. He started to drink the ocean water. I tried to restrain him -- I hit him. He -- he struck his head against the starboard rail. I'm afraid he died. I feel terrible but it wasn't my fault."
Nancy climbed into Long's disheveled yacht. In the cabin she found Bill Smith laid out on his back, dead. Nancy studied the bruise on Smith's jaw and the one at the base of his skull.
Back on the fishing boat, Nancy warned Long grimly, "You're going to have to tell the police a better tale than the one you told me!" Why didn't Nancy believe Long?
YOU ARE READING
Nancy Drew Mini-Mysteries
FanfictionThis story features Nancy Drew mini-mysteries. IT'S UP TO YOU, IT'S NANCY DREW. (P.S. I don't own any of these mini-mysteries. HeR Interactive does. And check their links as seen in the first chapter!)
