held out a hand for Jack
to shake. "An' mout I be so bold as tuh 'mind yuh thet I don't hanker
'bout stayin' down heah any longer than I has tuh. Yuh promised tuh
see I gut back tuh Beaufort, suh," he said.

"He's got you there, Jack, for that's just what you did," laughed Herb.

"I reckon that money'll burn a hole in Pete's pocket, unless he manages
to get to town right smart," declared the marshal; "but Mr. Spence heah
has got an old sail boat in which the hull lot of us is goin' to head
foh Beaufort soon. Pete is welcome to go along, if he cares."

"That pleases us a whole lot," remarked George, "because, you see, we
had a nasty little experience with some toughs along the water front,
and they bombarded us with a shower of stones as we pulled out, though
fortunately none of them struck either the boats or ourselves."

"Yes, and as we've got a long trip ahead of us before we reach the
place we marked for the end of the motor boat cruise, the sooner we
make a start the better. So we'll say good-bye to you all; and Mr.
Spence, best wishes for your future happiness. Perhaps some day we may
run across that famous son of yours again, because he took our home
address and said he meant to get in touch with us. We'd all like to
meet him again, eh, boys?" and Jack turned to his chums as he asked
this.

"That's what!" declared Nick, who had been especially interested in the
wonderful hydro-aeroplane, and even hinted that some day he also hoped
to fly through the upper currents in one, much to the amusement of his
comrades, who roared every time any one tried to picture the fat boy
trying such stunts.

So they shook hands all around, not forgetting the three charming
girls, who seemed very friendly disposed toward the Yankee boys, after
discovering what fine news the voyagers had brought their father.

"All aboard!" cried the commodore.

As the three motor boats put out upon the sun-kissed water the girls
waved dainty handkerchiefs as long as they could see the fleet. Then a
change of course shut out the fishing shack, where love had made a home
for the planter in his hour of adversity.

"After all, that was a most satisfying adventure, fellows," Jack
remarked, for the other boats were close by at the time.

"I should say, yes," admitted Josh.

"Only thing I didn't like," declared Nick, who was looking quite
unhappy, they began to notice, as though a spell of sea sickness had
gripped him, "was that we had t