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