my hands on that there gold, I do. The Pirate Shark ain't around,
lads--don't be hard on old Jerry! You've got me, lads, you've got me.
Don't put me in irons yet, lads. Let me go down once more, just to get
my hands on that there gold--"

"Calm down, Jerry," broke in Bob, as the quartermaster's voice grew
hoarser still, his old face working almost hysterically. "We're not
going to hurt you. I tell you what. Wait till dad gets back with Swanson
and the crew, then we'll get up that treasure for you--"

"No!" Jerry's voice rang out clear and strong, a feverish anxiety in his
face. "I want to do it myself, lads! If the Pirate Shark's there I want
to get at him with that there kris!"

"Where is the kris, by the way?" interjected Mart.

"Stickin' in the side o' the wreck," replied Jerry in a calmer voice.
"She's layin' over on her side, hard and fast in the coral. I felt
around a bit, lads, and I seen a box there--it's rotten, it is, and it's
full o' gold! The mystery o' the sea, lads, the mystery o' the sea! The
gold's down below, and us up here above--and fish tell no tales, lads!
Let me go down once more, lads, and I'll not say another word, or cause
any more trouble, that I won't!"

The boys looked at each other irresolutely. After all, reflected Mart,
there could be no risk to themselves in letting Jerry go down again. He
was plainly in a high state of excitement at having found the wreck and
possibly the treasure, and it would possibly be more injurious to
restrain him than it would be to let him continue his work.

Of course, there was danger from the Pirate Shark, and a terrible danger
it was. But as Jerry had said, once he stood with his back against the
wreck and the kris in his hand, he would be able to hold his own. The
great danger came from the chance that the shark might catch him going
down or coming up, overturn him in the water, and snap him off.

"I don't know," said Bob slowly. "Of course, if that shark wasn't
there--"

"I can take care o' him," broke in Jerry eagerly, clutching at his
helmet. "He allus snaps off the lifelines first, they say, lads. If the
lines or the hose breaks, why, haul up on whichever's left. But he ain't
there, lads, he ain't there! You'll let old Jerry go down again! Come
an' help me up, lads."

"Hold on," exclaimed Mart as Bob impulsively started forward. "We don't
aim to let you start any rough-house with us, Jerry. I don't trust you a
little bit. Bob, you stand by whi