ly. "I have not looked for liquor, so I can't say if
there is any on the vessel or not."

"Captain, and don't know what's aboard!" exclaimed Sid Jeffers.

While he was speaking Sack Todd and Dan Baxter had been looking around
the deck in the semi-darkness.

"Where are the rest of the people on this boat?" demanded the
ex-counterfeiter.

"I don't see anybody," declared Dan Baxter. "Say, do you know what
I think?" he cried suddenly. "I think these fellows are all alone!"

"Humph!" muttered Sack Todd. "If they are--" He did not finish, but
smiled quietly to himself.

"Where can we get something to eat?" demanded the first mate, after
a rather awkward pause.

"In the galley or the cabin, as you please," said Dick. "But you will
have to prepare it yourselves. We have no cook on board."

"Oh, that's it, eh? Well, Guirk can cook pretty good and he can do
the trick for us, eh, Guirk?"

"Aye, aye!" answered one of the sailors. "Just show me the victuals
an' the stove, an' I'll be after doing the rest in jig time. I'm
hungry enough to eat 'most anything."

Dick led the way to the galley and the crowd from the small boat
followed; one sailor stopping long enough to tie the rowboat astern.

"Nobody else on board, eh?" said Sid Jeffers, turning suddenly on Dick.

"No, not at present," answered the eldest Rover, boldly.

"Where are you bound?"

"For Tampa Bay."

"What vessel is this?"

"The steam yacht _Mermaid_."

"Did you charter her?"

"No, we found her," answered Dick, resolved to tell the plain truth.

"Found her?" came from the mate and also from Dan Baxter.

"Yes."

"Where?"

"Out here in the gulf."

"Who was on board?" questioned Sack Todd.

"Nobody."

"Nobody!" came from all the newcomers.

"Do you mean to say there wasn't a soul on this boat when you found
her?" asked Dan Baxter, in high curiosity.

"That is the truth," said Tom. "She was drifting around, abandoned.
We simply climbed on board and took possession."

"Out in the middle of the gulf?" asked the first mate, incredulously.

"Yes."

"Ve vos shipwrecked and vos mighty glad to got on board," said Hans.

"Oh, that's it!" cried Sid Jeffers and a gleam of intelligence shot
from his eyes. "Mighty lucky you was, and no error! A ship like this
is worth a pile of money. But let us have something to eat and to
drink first and then we can talk matters over. A fellow can't pow-wow
well on an empty stomach."

He spoke a few words in