"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 na