n shook hands with the two boys. Jerry said that the natives were even
then making ready a huge barbecue in the village, which was half a mile
up-river, so without pausing for noon mess the hunters departed.

They took both trading goods and money with them, in order to make
payments to the natives, and when they stepped down into the prau and
the Malays shoved off, the boys led the crew in three hearty cheers. Out
flashed the long Malay sweeps, and with final shouts ringing over the
water, the prau swiftly moved off toward the river mouth. Mart and Bob
watched the three stalwart khaki-clad figures standing erect amid the
brown men, and followed the prau with their glasses until it was lost
around the first projection of the river bank Bob little dreamed what
would transpire before he was to see his father's face again!

The officers' mess was sadly depleted that noon, only Jerry, the boys,
and the Scotch engineer remaining. By this time the old quartermaster
had openly announced his intention of getting after the Pirate Shark, so
the boys had no hesitation in broaching the subject and asking his
plans.

"Well," returned Jerry, gazing mildly at the engineer, "first off, we'll
lay the yacht over that there wreck I was tellin' you lads about--you
mind that wreck, lads, eight fathom down? Rock bottom it is, coral rock,
down there among the fish. When we lay over her, all shipshape an'
Bristol fashion, then we'll look about for that there Pirate Shark. He's
down there, lads--down there among the fish, lads, eight fathom down!"

"I'll bet he ain't," interposed Mart. "Prob'ly Bob's bullet through his
fin sent him out of here into the deep water. It would me!"

"Ah, but you ain't no Pirate Shark, lad!" smiled Jerry, shaking his
head. "He's a cute un, he is." With that Jerry turned to the Scotch
engineer, who was no little astonished at the program, of which he had
known nothing. "Now, sir, I'll thank you to get the fires up a bit, as
we'll need steam to move. Best keep 'em banked, as we may finish off
that there shark to-morrow and run up river after gold."

"How long will dad be ashore?" asked Bob, while the dazed engineer
departed to look after his fires.

Jerry chuckled. "Oh, several days, lads, several days! Now, we'll break
out that dynamite an' then we'll lay her over the wreck--eight fathoms
down, and old Jerry the only man as knows. Fish tell no tales,
lads--fish tell no tales! You come to the bridge and watch ol