companion-way, "and see if the wires from the magneto are disconnected. I made a

g to follow Harry below. "I'll bet some

ell gasoline stro

mells like the gas house up near Goose Island in the Nort

pipe has broken loose," suggested Jack. "It seems to me th

red Harry. "Better open the windows a bit and let it air out in here. Sup

re at the stuff slopping up through the floor boards," h

ve happened. The pipes were all right when we fitted out

the compartment under the pilot house floor and just forward o

old your breath that way, you're a

ry shaking his fist in the air. "Someone deliberately drained

all in the pilot house since dinner watchi

answered Tom. "Maybe it isn't fair to the chap, but that fellow

cout doesn't accuse anyone until he has pr

, "but I can't help feel the way I feel, c

llow when he was still hanging on the cable and he tried to

can put up a good story that will satisfy even you chaps. I can hardly believe anyone

rtuna rolled viciously in the trough of the choppy sea, makin

Tom who was following closely. Harry was a

ed Jack wonderingly

wn!" declared Tom

ggage!" ass

le of water soaked garments in which he had been clothed when

e after deck," ventur

s there, I'll cook and wash dishes

empty. The visitor

e Old Neptune has gone back into it again," Jack said, his voice shaking. You don

rned Tom. "Do you think that fellow

n?" questioned J

entire new outfit of clothes and one rowboat from this bunch of kindergartners. The

as clear as mud! Look at what that youn

call him names. Maybe things look black

e the back of my neck it will. That g

h Rowdy. He's usually pretty near righ

lling like a loon. Let's see if Arnold can find bottom in the bi

" declared Tom. "We

ir was still heavy with the odor of gasoline but Jack deemed it safe to operate the engine, since the

s eye caught sight of a piece of paper lying on the floor. Hastily he kicked it aside

kick the dirt back under the couch and let t

ied Tom shamefacedly

asked Harry. "

nswered. "Read it alou

ten, you fellows! Here's the secr

tiently cried Arnold.

"They know about the Spanish Chest. They

ch of his chums in amazement. Their fac

tones of wonder. "What does it mean whe

will sink the Fortuna if they have to in order to 'get' us. It listens like desperate characters were

ed Tom. "Who're after us and why? What

ped it would not be necessary to say anything for a long while yet for the moon isn'

y close friends--in fact they were schoolmates. Lawyer Geyer offered me a commission for him and fitte

rrupted Arnold. "Wh

-head!" admonished

me went on and the country became settled, this fort was quite a refuge for settlers in times of trouble. It is said that once a commander of the fort was wicked enough to turn against his own people and that he incited

Tom. "I think he sh

the gold against an attack by Indians. But whichever way it happened, report says that the gold was buried in the fort by the survivors and has never been unearthed since. Ma

Geyer sent us afte

get your mean

permitted to get the coin and then you s

overboard--he's a s

aughing. "Sit still a while and lis

thlessly urged Arno

at certain stages of the moon and tide can one hope to find this chest of treasur

is Spanish and so am I. How about you, Rowdy?" he went on

pt to "kiss" Harry's face and then endeavo

s down in this country a while ago on some real estate business and while here got the tale from some source that he considere

this visitor and the note he left. That must indicate that there is a gang working a

he way he put the rollers under the gang

oing to Pascagoula and also to Biloxi. At either place one can get the Louisville & Nashville railroad for home. Think it over

e lads were startl

ahoy! Ke

manded Jack to Arnold

igging flying as she came up into the wind. As the Fortuna fell off they looked at the sch

rnold, springing over the rail without s