ing on the _Jessie D._, from the South Sea Islands, we
landed on a place where there was a trail running to a volcano. We took
to it, and the first thing we know we went down into that ere volcano
about a thousand feet. It made my hair stand on end, I can tell ye!
Four o' us went down, an' the others had to git ropes an' haul us up
ag'in, an' it took half a day to do it."

"Vos you hurted much?" asked Hans.

"Not a scratch, my hearty, only it broke my pipe, one my brother gave
me afore I sailed, an' one I wouldn't have taken a month's pay for,"
concluded Bahama Bill.

An hour later Songbird, who was on the deck of the steam yacht,
composing poetry in the darkness of the night, saw the old tar coming
toward him. Bahama Bill was groaning deeply.

"What's the matter?" asked the would-be poet.

"Oh, I'm a-burnin' up on my insides!" answered the old tar, and gave a
deep groan. "I want a doctor, I do!"

Seeing Bahama Bill was really sick, Songbird went to his assistance and
called Mr. Rover. Then Captain Barforth was consulted and he gave the
man some medicine.

"It's queer I took sick so quick," said Bahama Bill, an hour later,
when he felt better.

"What did you eat and drink?" asked Anderson Rover.

"I ate a tongue sandwich--one o' them was handed around awhile ago. I
put it in my bunk room when I got it and ate it on going to bed. It
made me sick the minit I downed it."

"I ate one of those sandwiches and it didn't hurt me," said Fred.

"Yah, and I vos eat two of dem," put in Hans. "Da vos goot, doo!" and
he smacked his lips.

"Perhaps you ate something earlier in the day that didn't agree with
you," said Captain Barforth; and there the talk ended, and Bahama Bill
retired once more.

Less than an hour later came a commotion on the steam yacht. Two men
were evidently fighting and the voice of Bahama Bill was heard.

"I've caught ye!" he bellowed. "No, ye ain't goin' to git away nuther!"
And then came a crash as some article of furniture was tipped over.

A rush was made by Mr. Rover, the boys and several others, and to the
astonishment of all Bahama Bill was discovered on the deck locked arm
in arm with Walt Wingate, who was doing his best to break away.

"Wingate, you rascal!" shouted Anderson Rover, and caught the deck hand
by the collar.

"Let me go!" yelled the fellow, and struggled to free himself. He held
a pistol in one hand and this went off, but the bullet merely cut the
air. Then the weapon