eckoning Arnold to silence, "if any one of
you wants to go back, he can have the chance. We're going to Pascagoula
and also to Biloxi. At either place one can get the Louisville &
Nashville railroad for home. Think it over. If you want to try for the
Spanish Treasure Chest, stick. If not, you are at liberty to go home at
any time we make a port."

At that instant the lads were startled to hear the hail:

"Launch ahoy! Keep off!"

"Port your helm," commanded Jack to Arnold who was at the wheel.

Dimly the boys made out the bulk of a schooner on their port bow, her
sails slatting and rigging flying as she came up into the wind. As the
Fortuna fell off they looked at the schooner and saw the main boom
swinging across the deck, strike a man standing near the rail.

"Man overboard. Give me a line," cried Arnold, springing over the rail
without stopping to divest himself of his clothing.

CHAPTER IV

THE HOLE IN THE BOAT

Harry dashed to the rail and seized the ring life preserver from its
beckets. As Arnold rose to the surface and reached out for the
unfortunate man from the schooner, Harry flung the ring-buoy with
unerring aim. It fell true, and within Arnold's reach.

Gradually pulling in the line, Harry and Tom drew their chum to the side
of the Fortuna. The figure in his arms appeared perfectly lifeless.
Quickly they prepared to take both on board.

"Make a bowline in a bight in that line," directed Harry. "Pass it down
to Arnold and let him send us up the man first."

"Right-o," responded Tom, quickly preparing the line.

It was but the work of a moment to securely fasten the line about the
man's limp form and in another moment he was safely on deck. Arnold
followed, coming over the rail like a monkey.

First aid to the drowned was administered rapidly by the boys who prided
themselves upon their proficiency in this art.

"Looks like a nasty bump he got on the coco, too," commented Tom. "How'd
they happen to sneak upon us so close?" he added.

"Humph!" grunted Harry. "We all forgot to keep the Klaxon going while we
listened to that fairy tale about the Spanish Treasure Chest. Maybe they
forgot to blow their fog horn also, and there you are. Natural result of
neglect. That's easy."

"Where are they now?" queried Arnold peering about in the fog.

"I believe that as soon as they saw we were picking up this chap," Jack
replied, "they filled their sails and away they went. Certainly they are