"Well, if you are ready to sail, we'll start without further delay,"
interrupted Anderson Rover, and gave the necessary orders to Captain
Barforth.

"Good bye to home!" cried Dick, and took off his cap. "When we return
may we have the treasure safely stowed away in the hold or the cabin!"

"So say we all of us!" sang out Tom.

Steam was already up and a cloud of smoke was pouring from the funnel
of the steam yacht. The lines were cast off, and a few minutes later
the vessel was on her voyage down the Delaware River to the bay.

"You are sure we have everything necessary for this trip?" asked Mr.
Rover, of the captain.

"Yes, Mr. Rover; I even brought along some picks and shovels,"
answered the master of the steam yacht, and smiled faintly. He had
little faith in the treasure hunt being successful, but he thought the
trip down among the West Indies would be well worth taking.

It was a beautiful day, with just sufficient breeze blowing to cool
the July air. While they were steaming down the river the girls and
ladies, and some of the boys, sat on the forward deck taking in the
various sights which presented themselves. There were numerous tugs
and sailing craft, and now and then a big tramp steamer or regular
liner, for Philadelphia has a large commerce with the entire world.

"It hardly seems possible that the treasure hunt has really begun,"
said Dora to Dick.

"Well, it won't actually begin until we are down about where Treasure
Isle is located," was the reply. "We have quite a few days' sailing
before that time comes."

"I hope it remains clear, Dick."

"I am afraid it won't, Dora; there are always more or less storms
among the West Indies."

"I have heard they sometimes have terrible hurricanes," came from
Grace. "I read of one hurricane which flooded some small islands
completely."

"Grace is trying to scare us!" cried Nellie.

"Well, islands have been swept by hurricanes," said Sam, coming to the
rescue of his dearest girl friend. "But let us hope we escape all
heavy storms."

"A steam yacht is not as bad off as a sailing vessel," said Dick. "If
necessary, we can run away from a heavy storm. In a high wind it's a
sailing ship that catches it."

By nightfall they had passed out of Delaware Bay into the Atlantic
Ocean, and then the course was changed to almost due south. As soon as
they got out on the long swells the _Rainbow_ commenced to toss and
pitch considerably.

"Now you can sing a life on the ocean wave!" cried Dick to Songbird.
"How does this suit you?"

"Elegant!" was the reply, and then the would-be poet began to warble:

"I love the rolling ocean
With all its strange commotion
And all the washing wavelets that hit us on the side;
I love to hear the dashing
Of the waves and see the splashing
Of the foam that chums around us as on we glide!"

"Gee Christopher!" cried Sam. "Say, Songbird, that rhyme is enough to
make one dizzy!"

"I dink dot boetry vos make me tizzy already," came from Hans, as he
sat down on a nearby chair, his face growing suddenly pale.

"Hullo, Hans is sick!" cried Tom. "Hans, I thought you had better sea
legs than that."

"I vosn't sick at all, Dom, only vell, der ship looks like be vos
going to dake a summersaults already kvick!"

"You're seasick," said Sam. "Better go to your stateroom and lie
down."

"I ton't vos going to get seasick," protested the German youth.

"Think of Hansy getting seasick!" cried Fred. "That's the best yet!"
And he laughed heartily. "Shall I hold your head for you?" he asked,
with a grin.

"I guess it vos der fireworks yesterday done him," said Hans weakly,
and staggered off to the cabin.

"That's kind of rough to twit him, Fred," remarked Dick.

"Oh, I only meant it in fun."

"Maybe you'll get seasick yourself."

"Not much! If I do, I have a remedy in my trunk, that I brought from
home."

"You'd better give the remedy to Hans."

"I will."

Fred went below and got the bottle of medicine from his dress suit
case. As he did this his own head began to swim around, much to his
alarm.

"Here, Hans, is a dose for you," he said, entering the stateroom,
where the German youth was rolling around on the berth.

"Vot ist it for?" groaned the sufferer.

"Seasickness."

"Den gif it to me kvick! Gif me apout two quarts!"

"It says take a tablespoonful," said Fred, reading the label with
difficulty. "Here you are."

He administered the medicine, which Hans took without a murmur,
although it was very bitter. Then he tried to take a dose himself, but
his stomach suddenly "went back on him," and he let the bottle fall
with a crash to the floor.

"Oh, my! you vos lose all dot goot medicine!" cried Hans, in alarm.

"I--I know it," groaned Fred. "And I--er--I need it so much!"

"Vot, you seasick, too? Ha, ha! Dot's vot you gits for boking fun at
me, yah!" And Hans smiled in spite of his anguish.

It was certainly poetic justice that Fred should get seasick and that
the malady should affect him far more seriously than it did Hans. The
medicine given to the German lad made him feel better in less than an
hour, while poor Fred suffered until noon of the next day. None of the
other boys were affected. The ladies and the girls felt rather dizzy,
and Mrs. Stanhope had to lie down until the next forenoon, but by the
evening of the next day all were around as before, and then
seasickness became a thing of the past.

"Can't tell nuthin' about that seasickness," said Bahama Bill, to Tom,
after hearing how ill Fred was. "I remember onct I took a voyage to
Rio, in South America. We had a cap'n as had sailed the sea for forty
years an' a mate who had been across the ocean sixteen times. Well,
sir, sure as I'm here we struck some thick weather with the Johnny
Jackson tumblin' an' tossin' good, and the cap'n an' the mate took
seasick an' was sick near the hull trip. Then the second mate got
down, an' the bosun, an' then the cook, an--"

"The cabin boy--" suggested Tom.

"No, we didn't have any cabin boy. Next--"

"Maybe the second fireman caught it."

"No, this was a bark an' we didn't have no second fireman, nor fust,
neither. Next--"

"Maybe the cat, or don't cats get seasick?"

"The cat. Why, mate--"

"I see some cats get sick, but that may not be seasick, even though
you can see the sickness," went on Tom, soberly.

"I don't know as we had a cat on board. But as I was sayin', next--"

"Oh, I know what you are driving at, Bill. Next the steersman got down
with the mumps, then you took the shingles, and another sailor got
lumbago, while the third mate had to crawl around with a boil on his
foot as large as a cabbage. I heard about that affair--read about it
in the last monthly number of the Gasman's Gazette--how the ship had
to sail itself for four weeks and how the wind blew it right into port
and how not even a shoestring was lost overboard. It was really
wonderful and I am thankful you reminded me of it." And then Tom
walked off, leaving Bahama Bill staring after him in dumb amazement.
The old tar realized dimly that for once he had met his match at yarn
spinning, and it was several days before he attempted to tell any more
of his outrageous stories.




CHAPTER XVI

A ROW ON SHIPBOARD


"Do you know, I think we are going on the wildest kind of a goose
chase," said Tom, the next day, to his two brothers.

"Why?" questioned Sam.

"Because we are depending, in large part, on what Bahama Bill has to
tell, he's the worst yarn spinner I ever ran across."

"It's true that he is a yam spinner," said Dick, "but behind it all
father says he tells a pretty straight story of how the treasure was
stolen and secreted on Treasure Isle."

"I want to see the island, and the treasure, too, before I'll believe
one quarter of what that sailor says," replied Tom.

"Well, we'll soon know the truth of the matter," came from Sam. "If
this good weather continues we ought to get to where we are going
inside of ten days. Of course, if we are held up by fogs or storms it
will take longer."

The boys, and the girls, too, for the matter of that, were greatly
interested in the elegant steam yacht, and they took great pleasure in
visiting every part of the vessel from bow to stem. Captain Barforth
did all in his power to make all on board the _Rainbow_ feel at home and
whenever the boys visited the engine room they were met with a smile
from Frank Norton.

But if they had friends on board there were also some persons they did
not like. The first mate, whose name was Asa Carey, was a silent man
who rarely had a pleasant word for anybody. He hated to have young
folks around, and it was a mystery to the Rovers why he should occupy
a position on a pleasure craft.

"He ought to be on a freight steamer," was Dick's comment--"some
boat where he wouldn't meet anybody but those working under him. I
can't understand how the captain can bear him for his first
assistant."

"The owner of the steam yacht hired him," answered Mr. Rover. "I
believe the captain does not like him any more than we do. But the
mate does his duty faithfully, so the captain cannot find fault."

Another individual the boys did not like was Bill Bossermann, the
assistant engineer. Bossermann was a burly German, with the blackest
of hair and a heavy black beard and beady black eyes. He had a coarse
voice and manners that put one in mind of a bull. Hans tried to get
friendly with him, but soon gave it up.

"He vos von of dem fellers vot knows it all," explained Hans to his
chums. "He makes some of dem, vot you call him--bolitical talks,
yah. He dinks eferypotty should be so goot like eferypotty else, und
chust so rich, too."

"Must be an Anarchist," said Tom. "He looks the part."

"Norton told me he was a first-class engineer," said Dick, "but when I
asked him if he was a good fellow he merely shrugged his shoulders in
answer."

One day the first mate was in command, the captain having gone below
to study his charts and work out the ship's position. Tom had brought
a baseball to the deck and was having a catch with Sam. The boys
enjoyed the fun for quite a while and did not notice the mate near
them.

"Can you throw it up over that rope?" asked Sam, pointing to a stay
over his head.

"Sure thing!" cried Tom.

"Look out you don't throw it overboard."

"I'll take care," answered the fun-loving Rover, and launched the
baseball high into the air. Just then the steam yacht gave a lurch,
the ball hit the mainmast, and down it bounced squarely upon Asa
Carey's head, knocking the mate's cap over his eyes and sending him
staggering backwards.

"Hi, hi! you young rascals!" roared the mate. "What do you mean by
such conduct?"

"Excuse me," replied Tom, humbly. "I didn't mean to hit you. It was an
accident."

"I think you did it on purpose, you young villain!"

"It was an accident, Mr. Carey--and I'll thank you not to call me a
rascal and a villain," went on Tom rather warmly.

"I'll call you what I please!"

"No, you won't."

"Yes, I will. I am in command here, and I won't have you throwing
baseballs at me."

"I just told you it was an accident. If the yacht hadn't rolled just
as I threw the ball it would not have hit you."

"Bah! I know boys, and you especially. You love to play tricks on
everybody. But you can't play tricks on me." And as the mate spoke he
stopped, picked up the rolling ball, and put it in his pocket.

"Are you going to keep that ball?" demanded Sam.

"I am."

"It is our ball."

"See here, Mr. Carey, we didn't mean to hit you, and we were only
amusing ourselves catching," said Tom. "We have hired this yacht and
we have a right to do as we please on board so long as we don't
interfere with the running of the vessel. I want you to give us our
ball back." And Tom stepped up and looked the mate squarely in the
eyes.

"What! you dare to dictate to me!" roared the mate, and raised his
hand as if to strike Tom. He thought the youth would retreat in fear,
but Tom never budged.

"I am not trying to dictate, but I have rights as well as you. I want
that ball."

"You can't have it."

"If you don't give it to me I shall report the matter to Captain
Barforth."

At this threat the mate glared at Tom as if he wanted to eat the boy
up.

"If I give you the ball you'll be throwing it at me again," he
growled.

"I didn't throw it at you. But as for catching on the deck--I shall
ask the captain if that is not allowable. I am quite sure it is, so
long as we do no damage."

"Going to sneak behind the captain for protection, eh?" sneered Asa
Carey. He did not like the outlook, for that very morning he had had
some words with the commander of the steam yacht and had gotten the
worst of it.

"I want that ball."

The mate glared at Tom for a moment and then threw the ball to him.

"All right, take your old ball," he muttered. "But you be mighty
careful how you use it after this or you'll get into trouble," and
with this the mate walked away.

"Are you going to speak to the captain?" asked Sam, in a low tone.

Tom thought for a moment.

"Perhaps it will be better to let it go, Sam. I don't want to stir up
any more rows than are necessary. But after this I am going to keep my
eye on that fellow."

But if the lads did not mention it to the captain they told their
brother and their chums of it, and a long discussion followed.

"I noticed that the mate and the assistant engineer are quite thick,"
observed Fred. "It seems they were friends before they came aboard."

"And they are two of a kind," remarked Dick. "I feel free to say I do
not like than at all."

It was growing warmer, and for the next few days the girls and the
boys were content to take it easy under the awnings which had been
spread over a portion of the deck. Once the lads amused themselves by
fishing with a net and bait, but were not very successful. In the
evening they usually sang or played games, and often Songbird would
favor them with some of his poetry. For the most of the time Mrs.
Stanhope and Mrs. Laning did fancywork.

"Captain says there is a storm coming up," announced Sam, one evening.

"Oh, dear! I hope it doesn't get very rough!" cried Mrs. Stanhope. "I
detest a heavy storm at sea."

"Well, mamma, we'll have to expect some storms," said Dora.

"Oh, I shan't mind, if it doesn't thunder and lightning and blow too
much."

But this storm was not of the thunder and lightning variety, nor did
it blow to any extent. It grew damp and foggy, and then a mist came
down over the ocean, shutting out the view upon every side. At once
the engine of the steam yacht was slowed down, and a double lookout
was stationed at the bow, while the whistle was blown at regular
intervals.

"This isn't so pleasant," remarked Songbird, as he and Dick tramped
along the deck in their raincoats. "Ugh! what a nasty night it is!"

"No poetry about this, is there, Songbird?" returned Dick, grimly.

"Hardly," said the poet, yet a few minutes later he began softly:

"A dreadful fog came out of the sea,
And made it as misty as it could be.
The deck was wet, the air was damp--"

"It was bad enough to give you a cramp!" finished up Tom, who had come
up. "Beautiful weather for drying clothes or taking pictures," he went
on. "By the way, I haven't used my new camera yet. I must get it out
as soon as the sun shines again."

"And I must get out my camera," said Songbird. "I have a five by seven
and I hope to take some very nice pictures when we get down among the
islands."

"How do ye like this sea fog?" asked a voice at the boys' rear, and
Bahama Bill appeared, wrapped in an oilskin jacket. "It puts me in
mind of a fog I onct struck off the coast o' Lower Californy. We was
in it fer four days an' it was so thick ye could cut it with a cheese
knife. Why, sir, one day it got so thick the sailors went to the bow
an' caught it in their hands, jess like that!" He made a grab at the
air. "The captain had his little daughter aboard an' the gal went out
on deck an' got lost an' we had to feel around in that fog nearly an
hour afore we found her, an' then, sure as I'm a standin' here, she
was next to drowned an' had to be treated jess like she had been under
water."

"How long ago was that?" asked Tom, poking the other boys in the ribs.

"Seven years ago, this very summer."

"I thought so, Bill, for that very summer I was at Fort Nosuch, in
Lower California. I remember that fog well. One of the walls of the
fort had fallen down and the commander was afraid the desperadoes were
going to attack him. So he had the soldiers go out, gather in the fog,
and build another wall with it. It made a fine defence, in fact, it
was simply out of sight," concluded the fun-loving Rover.

"Say, you--" began Bahama Bill. "You--er--you--say, I can't say
another word, I can't! The idee o' building a wall o' fog! Why, say--"

What the old tar wanted to say, or wanted them to say, will never be
known, for at that instant came a loud cry from the bow. Almost
immediately came a crash, and the _Rainbow_ quivered and backed. Then
came another crash, and the old sailor and the boys were hurled flat
on the deck.




CHAPTER XVII

A MISHAP IN THE FOG


"We have struck another vessel!"

"We are sinking!"

"How far are we from land?"

These and other cries rang out through the heavy fog, as the two
crashes came, followed, a few seconds later, by a third.

Captain Barforth had left the steam yacht in charge of the first mate
and was on the companionway going below. With two bounds he was on
deck and running toward the bow at top speed.

"What was it? Have we a hole in the bow?" he questioned, of the
frightened lookouts, who had been sent spinning across the slippery
deck.

"Couldn't make out, captain--it was something black," said one
lookout. "Black and square like."

"I think it was a bit of old wreckage," said the other. "Anyway, it
wasn't another vessel, and it was too dark for a lumber raft."

"Is it out of sight?"

It was, and though all strained their eyes they could not make out
what had been struck, nor did they ever find out.

From the deck the captain made his way below, followed by Mr. Rover,
who was anxious to learn the extent of the injuries. In the meantime
the ladies and girls had joined the boys on the deck, and the latter
began to get out the life preservers.

The most excited man on board was Asa Carey, and without waiting for
orders from the captain, he ordered two of the small boats gotten
ready to swing overboard. Then he ran down to his stateroom, to get
some of his possessions.

"Is we gwine to de bottom?" questioned Aleck, as he appeared, clad in
a pair of slippers and a blanket.

"I don't know," answered Fred. "I hope not."

The boys had all they could do to keep the girls quiet, and Grace was
on the point of becoming hysterical, which was not to be wondered at,
considering the tremendous excitement.

"We cannot be so very far from one of the islands," said Dick. "And if
the worst comes to the worst we ought to be able to make shore in the
small boats."

"Are there enough boats?" asked Mrs. Laning.

"Yes, the steam yacht is well equipped with them."

The engine of the vessel had been stopped and the steam yacht lay like
a log on the rolling waves. The shocks had caused some of the lights
to go out, leaving the passengers in semi darkness.

"Oh, Dick, do you think we'll go down?" whispered Dora, as, she clung
to his arm.

"Let us hope not, Dora," he answered and caught her closer. "I'll
stick to you, no matter what comes!"

"Yes! yes! I want you to do that! And stick to mamma, too!"

"I will. But I don't think we'll go down just yet," he went on, after
a long pause. "We seem to be standing still, that's all."

They waited, and as they did so he held her trembling hands tightly in
his own. In that minute of extreme peril they realized how very much
they were to one another.

At last, after what seemed to be hours, but, was in reality less than
five minutes, Anderson Rover appeared.

"There is no immediate danger," said he. "We must have struck some
sort of wreckage, or lumber float. There is a small hole in the bow,
just above the water line, and several of the seams have been opened.
Captain Barforth is having the hole closed up and has started up the
donkey pump to keep the water low in the hold. He says he thinks we
can make one of the nearby ports without great trouble."

This news removed the tension under which all were suffering, and a
little later the ladies and the girls retired to the cabin, and Aleck
stole back to his sleeping quarters. The boys went forward, to inspect
the damage done, but in the darkness could see little.

"It was an accident such as might happen to any vessel," said the
captain, later. "The lookouts were evidently not to blame. There are
many derelicts and bits of lumber rafts scattered throughout these
waters and consequently traveling at night or in a fog is always more
or less dangerous.

"We shall have to put up somewhere for repairs, not so?" questioned
Anderson Rover.

"It would be best, Mr. Rover. Of course we might be able to patch
things ourselves, but, unless you are in a great hurry, I advise going
into port and having it done. It will have to be done sooner or later
anyway."

"Where do you advise putting in?"

Captain Barforth thought for a moment.

"I think we had better run over to Nassau, which is less than sixty
miles from here. Nassau, as perhaps you know, is the capital city of
the Bahamas, and has quite some shipping and we'll stand a good chance
there of getting the right ship's--carpenters to do the work."

After some talk, it was decided to steer for Nassau, and the course of
the _Rainbow_ was changed accordingly. They now ran with even greater
caution than before, and a strong searchlight was turned on at the
bow, the surplus power from the engine being used for that purpose.

As my young readers may know, Nassau is located on New Providence
Island, about two hundred miles east of the lower coast of Florida. It
is under British rule and contains about fifteen thousand inhabitants.
It is more or less of a health resort and is visited by many tourists,
consequently there are several good hotels and many means of spending
a few days there profitably.

The run to Nassau was made without further mishaps, and immediately on
arriving the steam yacht was placed in the hands of some builders who
promised to make the needed repairs without delay. The entire crew
remained on board, as did Aleck Pop, but the Rovers and their friends
put up at a leading hotel for the time being.

After the run on shipboard from Philadelphia to the Bahamas, the
ladies and girls were glad enough to set foot again on land. After one
day of quietness at the hotel the party, went out carriage riding,
and, of course, the boys went along. They saw not a few unusual
sights, and were glad they had their cameras with them.

"We'll have a dandy lot of pictures by the time we get home," said
Sam.

"There is one picture I want more than any other," said Tom.

"One of Nellie, I suppose," and Sam winked.

"Oh, I've got that already," answered the fun-loving Rover unabashed.

"What's that you want?" asked Songbird.

"A picture of that treasure cave with us loading the treasure on the
yacht."

"Now you are talking, Tom!" cried his older brother. "We all want
that. I am sorry we have been delayed here."

"How long vos ve going to sthay here?" questioned Hans.

"The repairs will take the best part of a week, so the ship builders
said."

"Ain't you afraid dot Sid Merrick got ahead of you?"

"I don't know. He may be on his way now, or he may not have started
yet from New York."

"Oh, I hope we don't meet Merrick, or Sobber either!" cried Dora.

On the outskirts of the town was a fine flower garden where roses of
unusual beauty were grown. One day the girls and ladies visited this
and Dick and Songbird went along. In the meantime Tom and Sam walked
down to the docks, to see how the repairs to the _Rainbow_ were
progressing, and also to look at the vessels going out and coming in.

"A vessel is due from New York," said Tom. "I heard them talking about
it at the hotel."

"Let us see if there is anybody on board we know," answered his
brother.

They walked to the spot where the people were to come in, and there
learned that the steamer had sent its passengers ashore an hour
before. A few were at the dock, taking care of some baggage which had
been detained by the custom house officials.

"Well, I never!" exclaimed Tom. "If there isn't Peter Slade! What can
he be doing here?"

Peter Slade had once been a pupil at Putnam Hall. He had been
something of a bully, although not as bad as Tad Sobber. The boys had
often played tricks on him and once Peter had gotten so angry he had
left the school and never come back.

"Let us go and speak to him," said Sam.

"Maybe he won't speak, Sam. He was awful angry at us when he left the
Hall."

"If he doesn't want to speak he can do the other thing," said the
youngest Rover. "Perhaps he'll be glad to meet somebody in this out of
the way place."

They walked over to where Peter Slade stood and both spoke at once.
The other lad was startled at first and then he scowled.

"Humph! you down here?" he said, shortly.

"Yes," answered Tom, pleasantly enough. "Did you just get in on the
steamer?"

"I don't know as that is any of your business, Tom Rover!"

"It isn't, and if you don't want to speak civilly, Slade, you haven't
got to speak at all," said Tom, and started to move away, followed by
his brother.

"Say, did you meet Tad Sobber and his un--" And then Peter Slade
stopped short in some confusion.

"Did we meet who?" demanded Tom, wheeling around in some astonishment.

"Never mind," growled Peter Slade.

"Were they on the steamer?" asked Sam.

"I'm not saying anything about it."

"Look here, Slade, if they were on the steamer we want to know it,"
came from Tom.

"Really?" and the former bully of the Hall put as much of a sneer as
possible into the word.

"We do, and you have got to tell us."

"I don't see why."

"You will if you are honest," said Sam. "You know as well as I do that
Tad Sobber's uncle is a rascal and ought to be in prison."

"Tad says it isn't so--that his uncle didn't take those bonds--
that they were placed in his care to be sold at a profit, if
possible."

"When did Tad tell you that?"

"Only a couple of days ago--I mean he told me, and that's enough."

"Then he told you while you were on the steamer," put in Tom.

"Yes, if you must know." Peter Slade's face took on a cunning look. "I
guess Mr. Merrick and Tad will trim you good and proper soon."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Oh, I know a thing or two."

"Did they tell you what had brought them down here?"

"Maybe they did."

"Who was with them?"

"You had better ask them."

"Where are they?"

"That's for you to find out."

"See here, Slade, this is no way to talk," went on Tom earnestly. "If
you know anything about Sid Merrick and his plans you had better tell
us about them. If you don't I shall take it for granted that you are
in league with that rascal and act accordingly."

"Yes, and that may mean arrest for you," added Sam.

Peter Slade was a coward at heart, and these suggestive words made him
turn pale.

"I am not in league with them," he cried hastily. "I met them on the
steamer by accident. Tad told me he and his uncle were going to get
the best of you, but how he didn't say."

"Who was with them, come, out with it."

"A Spaniard named Doranez."

"Doranez!" cried both the Rover boys and looked suggestively at each
other.

"Yes, do you know him?"

"We know of him," answered Tom slowly. "Where did they go?"

"I don't know exactly."

"Don't you know at all?"

"They were going to look for some tramp steamer that was to be here.
If they found her they were going to sail at once to some other
island," answered Peter Slade.




CHAPTER XVIII

THE NEW DECK HAND


Having said so much, Peter Slade seemed more inclined to talk, one
reason being that he wanted to get at the bottom of the mystery which
had brought Tad Sobber and his uncle to that part of the globe. Tad
had hinted of great wealth, and of getting the best of the Rovers and
some other people, but had not gone into any details.

Peter said he had come to Nassau to join his mother, who was stopping
there for her health. His father was coming on later, and then the
family was going across the ocean.

"I know there is something up between your crowd and the Merrick
crowd," said the youth. "You are both after something, ain't you?"

"Yes," answered Tom.

"What?"

"I can't tell you that, Slade. It's something quite valuable, though."

"Well, I guess Sobber's uncle will get ahead of you."

"Perhaps so. What is the name of the tramp steamer he is looking for?"

"The _Josephine_."

"Was she to be here?"

"They hoped she would be."

"Were they going to hire her?" asked Sam.

"I suppose so."

"Then Merrick had money."

"Yes, he had some, and that Spaniard had some, too."

A little more conversation followed, and then the Rover boys asked
Slade where he was going to stop, and said they might see him later.

"This is mighty interesting," remarked Tom, as he and his brother
hurried to their hotel. "We must tell father of this without delay."

But Mr. Rover could not be found until that evening, when the party
came back from the visit to the flower gardens. He listened with deep
interest to what was said, and then went off on a hunt for Sid Merrick
and the tramp steamer _Josephine_ without delay.

Nothing was discovered that night, but a little before noon of the day
following they learned that a tramp steamer had appeared in the
harbor, taken several persons on board, and then steamed away again.

"Can you tell me the name of that craft?" asked Anderson Rover of the
man who gave him this information.

"She was the _Josephine_, sir, of Charleston, Captain Sackwell."

"Was she loaded?"

"I think not, sir."

"How many persons got aboard?"

"Five or six."

"One of them a young fellow?"

"Yes, sir, and one was a fellow who was very dark."

Mr. Rover knew that Doranez was very dark, and he rightfully surmised
that the party had been made up of Merrick, Tad, Doranez, Cuffer and
Shelley.

"This is certainly a serious turn of affairs," said he to his sons.
"While we have been losing time in Philadelphia and elsewhere, Sid
Merrick has gone to work, gotten somebody to let him have this tramp
steamer, and now, in company with Doranez, is off to locate Treasure
Isle and the treasure. It looks to me as if it might be a race between
us after all."

"Yes, and the worst of it is that we are laid up for repairs," said
Dick, with almost a groan in his voice.

"How long must we remain here?" asked Sam "Can't they hurry the job
somehow?"

"Let us offer 'em more money to hurry," suggested Tom.

The suggestion to offer more money was carried out, and the ship
builders promised to have the _Rainbow_ fit for sailing by the following
afternoon. The paint on the new work would not be dry, but that would
not matter.

On the morning of the day they were to sail a man applied to Captain
Barforth for a position. He said he had been a fireman on an ocean
liner, but had lost three fingers in some machinery and been
discharged.

"I am hard up," he pleaded. "I'll work for almost anything."

The captain was kind hearted, and as the _Rainbow_ could use another
deck hand he told the man to bring his luggage aboard, which the
fellow did. The newcomer's name was Walt Wingate, and he did his best
to make friends with everybody on board. He had a low, musical voice,
and was frequently whistling popular airs.

"He's an odd one," said Dick, after noticing the new deck hand several
times. "He seems real nice and yet--"

"You don't like him," finished Sam.

"That's it, Sam."

"Neither do I, and I can't tell why."

"Well, he hasn't anything to do with us. If he's a good man I'm glad
the captain gave him a job. It's tough luck to lose your fingers,
especially if you must work for a living."

By five o'clock the steam yacht had left the harbor of Nassau and was
standing out to sea once more. The course was again southward, around
the western extremity of Cuba. During the following days they passed
numerous islands and keys, as they are called, but generally at such a
distance that the shores could be seen but faintly.

To make sure of what he was doing, Anderson Rover held several
consultations with Captain Barforth, and Bahama Bill was closely
questioned regarding the location of Treasure Isle. The old tar stuck
to the story he had told so often, and went over numerous maps with
the commander of the steam yacht.

"He has the location pretty well fixed in his head unless the whole
thing is a fairy tale," was Captain Barforth's comment.

While one of these talks was going on, Dick, who was on deck, chanced
to go below in a hurry. As he passed down the companionway he
encountered Walt Wingate, who had been listening at the cabin doorway.

"Hullo, what do you want?" demanded Dick, for the man's face had a
guilty look on it.

"Why--er--my handkerchief blew down here and I came down to get
it," answered the new deck hand, and pointed to the cloth in question
sticking out of his pocket.

"Is that all?"

"That's all, sir," answered Wingate, and touching his cap he slouched
off. Then he turned back. "Sorry if I disturbed anybody," he added.

"Oh, I suppose it is all right," returned Dick, but he was by no means
satisfied, although he could not tell exactly why. There was something
about the new deck hand that did not "ring true." At first he thought
to speak to his parent about the occurrence, but then concluded not to
worry his father.

Knowing that it was now a race between the _Rainbow_ and the _Josephine_
for Treasure Isle, Captain Barforth crowded on all steam. The course
of the steam yacht was fairly well laid out, but it contained many
turns and twists, due to the many keys--located in these waters.

"We don't want to run on any hidden reef," said the master of the
vessel. "If we do we may go down or be laid up for a long while for
repairs. These waters are fairly well charted, but there is still a
great deal to be learned about them. From time to time they have had
earthquakes down here, and volcano eruptions, and the bottom is
constantly shifting."

On the second night out from Nassau, Sam, for some reason, could not
sleep. He tumbled and tossed in his berth for two hours, and then,
feeling that some fresh air might do him good, dressed in part and
went on deck.

It was not a very clear night, and but few stars shone in the
firmament. In the darkness the lad walked first to one side of the
steam yacht and then to the other. Then he strolled toward the bow, to
have a little chat with the lookout.

As he walked along the side of the cabin he became aware of a figure
leaning over the rail, gazing far down into the sea. By the man's
general form he made the fellow out to be Walt Wingate. The deck hand
had hold of something, although what it was Sam could not tell.

At first the youngest Rover was going to call to the man and ask him
what he was doing. But he remained silent, and stepped into the shadow
of the cabin as Wingate left the rail and crossed to the other side of
the yacht. From under some coils of rope the deck hand brought forth
something, lifted it over the rail and dropped it gently into the sea.
Then he leaned far over the rail as before, and this lasted two or
three minutes.

"He is certainly up to something out of the ordinary," thought Sam. "I
wonder if he is fishing? If he is, it seems to me it is a queer way to
go at it."

As Wingate left the rail he walked directly to where the boy stood.
When he discovered Sam he started back as if confronted by a ghost.

"Oh--er--didn't know anybody was up," he stammered.

"It was so hot in my stateroom I couldn't sleep," answered Sam. "I
came out to get the air."

"It's almost as hot on deck as it is anywhere," said the deck hand,
and his tone had little of cordiality in it.

"I think I'll go forward and try it there."

"Yes, it's a little breezier at the bow, sir. By the way, did you--
er--see me trying to catch some of those firefish just now?"

"I saw you doing something, I didn't see what."

"I thought I might get one, but they are all gone now," answered
Wingate, and slouched off, whistling in that peculiar manner of his.

Sam walked slowly to the bow. As he did this, Wingate turned to look
at him in a speculative way.

"Wonder if the young fool saw what I was up to?" he muttered. "If he
did I'd better go slow. I don't want to get caught. They might treat
me pretty roughly."

The watch on deck was changed and Wingate went below. Asa Carey was in
command of the yacht and he, too, wanted to know why Sam was up at
such a late hour. The boy told him, but said nothing to the mate of
Wingate's strange actions.

When Sam turned in, Dick wanted to know if he was sick.

"No, only restless, Dick," he replied. "By the way, I saw something
strange," he continued, and he related the occurrence.

"We must look into this, Sam. It may mean nothing and it may mean a
great deal," was the eldest Rover boy's comment.

The boys did not go on deck until after breakfast. Then they walked to
the starboard rail and stopped at the spot where Sam had first
discovered the deck hand.

"I don't see anything," said Dick, gazing over the rail. "Perhaps he
was fishing, after all. He may have thought--Hullo!"

"What is it, Dick?"

"Some kind of a line down here--a wire, fastened to a hook!"

"Can you reach it?"

"Hardly. I might if you'll hold my legs, so I don't go overboard."

"Hadn't we better tell Captain Barforth of this first? The wire may
belong there."

"I don't know what for. But we can tell the captain. Here he comes
now."

"Good morning, boys," said the master of the steam yacht pleasantly.
"What can you see over there?"

"Something we think unusual," said Sam "Please take a look and tell us
what it is."

Captain Barforth did as requested.

"That wire has no business there," he declared. "I don't know how it
came there."

"I can tell you how it got there, and I guess you'll find something
like it on the other side," answered Sam, and told what he had seen
Wingate do during the night.

"Humph, I'll investigate this," muttered the captain, and went off for
a boathook. When he returned he caught the hook into the loop of the
wire and tried to bring the end of the strand to the deck. He was
unable to do it alone and had to get the boys to aid him. Then all
three ran the wire around a brace and gradually hauled it aboard. At
the end was an iron chain, fastened into several loops, and also the
anchor to one of the rowboats.




CHAPTER XIX

TREASURE ISLE AT LAST


"So this is the work of that new deck hand, eh?" cried Captain
Barforth, grimly. "A fine piece of business to be in, I must say!"

"Let us see what is on the other side?" suggested Dick.

This was done, and they brought up another wire, to the end of which
were attached two small anchors and some pieces of scrap steel from
the tool room.

"He put those overboard for drag anchors," explained the master of the
steam yacht. "He did it to delay the _Rainbow_."

"Yes, and that was done so the _Josephine_ could get ahead of us," added
Dick.

"In that case he must be in league with Sid Merrick," came from Sam.

"Perhaps he met Merrick at Nassau and was hired for this work," said
Dick.

"That is possible, Dick. I'll have the truth out of him, if I have to
put him in irons and on bread and water to do it," added Captain
Barforth.

He at once sent for Walt Wingate. The deck hand who went after the man
came back five minutes later to report that the fellow could not be
located.

"He must be found!" cried Captain Barforth. "He can't skulk out of
this!"

A search was instituted, in which all of the boys, Mr. Rover and Aleck
joined. But though the steam yacht was searched from stem to stern,
the missing deck hand was not located. Some of the men even went down
into the hold, but with no success.

"Do you think he jumped overboard?" asked Fred.

"He might, but it would be a foolish thing to do," answered the
captain. "We are at least ten miles from any island."

"He may have had a small boat," said Songbird.

"No, the small boats are all here. He is on this vessel, but where is
the question."

To stimulate them in their search, the captain offered a reward of ten
dollars to any one of his crew who should bring Wingate to light. But
this brought no success, and for a very good reason as we shall learn
later.

How much the drags had hampered the progress of the _Rainbow_ there was
no telling, but freed of them, the steam yacht made good time. All of
the machinery was carefully inspected, including the propeller, to
which some wire was found twisted. But this had thus far done no
damage and was easily pulled out.

"He is certainly in league with Merrick and his crowd," said Anderson
Rover, "and that being so, we must be on constant guard against him."

The ladies and the girls were much alarmed to think that such a
character as Wingate might be roaming around the vessel in secret, and
at night they locked every stateroom door with care. The boys and Mr.
Rover were also on the alert, and some of them slept with loaded
pistols near at hand. Had Wingate shown himself unexpectedly he might
have met with a warm reception.

"That feller's disappearance puts me in mind o' something that
happened aboard the _Nancy Belden_, bound from the Congo to New York,
jest eight years ago this summer," said Bahama Bill, who had searched
as hard as anybody for the missing man. "We had on board a lot o' wild
animals fer a circus man, an' amongst 'em, was an orang outang, big
an' fierce, I can tell you. Well, this orang outang got out o' his
cage one night, an' in the mornin' he couldn't be found. We hunted an'
hunted, an' the next night nobody wanted to go to sleep fer fear he'd
wake up dead. The cap'n had his family aboard and the wife she was
'most scart stiff an' wouldn't hardly leave her room."

"And did you find the orang outang?" asked Songbird, with interest.

"We did an' we didn't. The fifth night after he was missing we heard a
fearful noise right in a cage wot had a lion in it. We run to the
place with shootin' irons an' spears and capstan bars, thinkin' the
lion was loose. When we got there we found the orang outang had
twisted one o' the bars o' the cage loose an' got inside and disturbed
Mr. Lion's best nap. Mr. Lion didn't like it, an' he gets up, and in
about two minutes he makes mince meat o' the orang outang. When we got
there all we see was bits o' skin, an' the feet an' head o' the orang
outang, yes, sir. We was glad he was gone--especially the cap'n wife
--but the circus men was mad to lose sech a valerable beast,"
concluded Bahama Bill.

"That was a pretty good one," was Tom's comment. "Too good to be
spoiled," and at this remark the others laughed.

"Vell, it's someding like ven dot snake got loose py Putnam Hall," was
Hans' comment. "Dot Vingate vos noddings put a snake, hey?"

"You hit it that time, Hans," answered Dirk, "A snake and of the worst
kind."

According to Bahama Bill's reckoning they were now less than two days'
sailing from Treasure Isle, and all on board who were in the secret
were filled with expectancy. So far nothing had been seen of the
_Josephine_, and they Wondered if the tramp steamer was ahead of them,
or if they had passed her in the darkness.

"Of course, she may have come by a different route," said Captain
Barforth. "While we passed to the east and south of some of the little
islands she may have gone to the north and west of them. One route
would be about as good as the other."

That night it grew foggy, and as a consequence they had to slow down,
which filled the boys with vexation for, as Tom declared, "they wanted
to find that island and the treasure right away."

"Well, you'll have to be patient," said Nellie,

"Aren't you anxious, Nellie?" he asked.

"Oh, yes, Tom; but I don't want to see anybody hurt, or the yacht
sunk."

Twenty four hours later the fog rolled away and on the following
morning Captain Barforth announced they were in the locality where
Treasure Isle was supposed to be located. The boys stationed
themselves in various parts of the steam yacht, and Dick and Tom went
aloft with a good pair of marine glasses.

"I see an island!" cried Tom, half an hour later.

This announcement thrilled all on board, but an hour later it was
discovered that the island was only a small affair and Bahama Bill
promptly said it was not that for which they were seeking.

"Come aloft and look through the glass," said Dick to the old tar, and
Bahama Bill readily accepted the invitation. Thus two hours more went
by, and the course of the steam yacht was changed to a wide circle.

"More land!" cried Dick, presently. "What do you make of that?" he
asked and handed the marine glasses to Bahama Bill.

The old tar looked through the glasses for a long time and then put
them down with much satisfaction.

"That's the place, or I'll forfeit a month's wages," he said.

"Is it Treasure Isle?" burst out Tom.

"Yes."

"Hurrah!" shouted Tom, running down the ratlines to the deck. "We've
found the island!" he shouted. "Hurrah!"

"Where?" asked half a dozen at once.

"Over in that direction. You can't see it with the naked eye, but it's
there just the same. Hurrah!" And in his high spirits Tom did a few
steps of a fancy jig.

Without delay the bow of the steam yacht was pointed in the direction
of the land that had been discovered, and after awhile all made it
out, a mere speck on the blue water. But as they approached, the speck
grew larger and larger, and they saw it was a beautiful tropical isle,
with waving palms reaching down almost to the water's edge.

"We can't land on this side," announced Bahama Bill. "The sea is too
dangerous here, We'll have to sail around to the south shore and lay
to beyond the reef, and then take small boats to the inside of the
horseshoe."

Again the course of the _Rainbow_ was changed, and they skirted the
eastern shore of the island, which was truly shaped like a horseshoe,
with the opening on the south side. To the north, the east and the
west were smaller islands and reefs, sticking out, "like horseshoe
nails," as Sam said. Sailing was dangerous here, and they had to go
slow and make frequent soundings, so that they did not reach the south
side of Treasure Isle until almost nightfall.

"The same old place!" murmured Bahama Bill.

"An' we anchored right out here when we took that treasure ashore! I
remember it as well if it was yesterday!" And he nodded over and over
again.

"And where is the cave from here?" asked Mr. Rover, who was as anxious
as anybody to locate the treasure.

"You can't see it, because it's behind the trees an' rocks," replied
the tar.

The reef beyond the horseshoe was a dangerous one, with the sea
dashing up many feet over it. There was only one break, less than
thirty feet wide, so gaining entrance to the harbor would be no easy
matter in a rowboat. "We had better wait until morning before we go
ashore," said Captain Barforth. "Even if we land we'll be able to do
little in the darkness."

"Oh, don't wait!" pleaded Tom.

"Why can't some of us go ashore?" put in Sam, who was as impatient as
his brother.

"I'd like to go myself," added Dick, "even if I had to stay ashore all
night. Remember, the _Josephine_ is on the way here, and the sooner some
of us get to land and locate that cave the better."

"The _Josephine_ isn't here yet," said Fred.

"No, but she may put in an appear at any time," answered Tom. "I
believe in taking time by the forelock, as the saying is."

The matter was talked over for a few minutes, and then it was decided
to let Tom, Dick, and Sam go ashore in company with two sailors, who
would then bring the rowboat back to the steam yacht. The boys were to
take blankets and some provisions with them and spend the night on the
island.

"I don't think you'll find the cave without Bahama Bill's aid," said
Mr. Rover. "But it will do no harm to look around. If this isle is
like the rest of the West Indies there will be little on it to hurt
you. There are few wild animals down here, and no savages outside of
some negroes who occasionally go on a spree and cut loose.."

The rowboat was soon ready, and the boys embarked, with the best
wishes of those left behind. Hans wanted to go very much, but was told
he must wait until morning. Bahama Bill said he would rather sleep on
shipboard any time than on shore.

"A bunk for me," were his words. "It's better than under the trees or
bushes. Once I was ashore sleepin' an' a big snake crawled over my
legs. I thought some cannibals were trying to tie me fast and jumped
up. When I see the snake I run about three miles without stopping. A
bunk fer me every time, yes, sir!"

It was exciting to bring the rowboat through the passage of the reef
and once the boys thought they were going to ship a good deal of
water. But the two men who were rowing knew their business and brought
them into the horseshoe harbor without mishap. They helped the lads to
land, on a small sandy strip close to some palms, and then started
back to the steam yacht.

"Treasure Isle at last!" cried Dick, when they were left alone. "So
far our quest has been successful. Now to locate the cave and unearth
that treasure!"

"And may it prove to be worth all that has been said of it," added Sam




CHAPTER XX

THE BOYS MAKE A DISCOVERY


The boys had landed at a spot that was particularly inviting in
appearance, and they stopped for several minutes to take in the
natural beauty surrounding them. There were tall and stately palms,
backed up by other trees, trailing vines of great length, and numerous
gorgeous flowers. A sweet scent filled the air, and from the woods in
the center of the isle came the song of tropical birds.

"What a fine camping place!" murmured Sam. "A fellow could spend
several weeks here and have lots of fun, bathing and boating, and
hunting birds, and fishing," and his brothers agreed with him.

Yet the beauty of Treasure Isle was soon forgotten in their anxiety to
locate the cave. They had a general idea that it was in the center of
the horseshoe curve, and that center was quite a distance from where
they had been brought ashore.