le I help Jerry get his helmet on, then
get the pump goin' while I slide him over the edge of the platform."

The quartermaster broke into a flood of eager words, which Bob abruptly
cut short.

"Look here, Jerry! What about dad? Are they holdin' him prisoner on
shore, like you said, or--or--"

He paused, and Jerry chuckled as he glanced up, his head on one side
like that of a bird, his blue eyes suddenly bright again.

"No, no, lad! He's just taken care of, that's all. Mebbe we'll make a
compromise yet, lads--you holdin' me and the yacht, and me holdin' your
father, eh! Well, we'll see. Birch can get him off, lads. Birch talks
the lingo, he does, and if anythin' happens to me, you talk to him."

This speech relieved the minds of both boys immensely. Half their fears
had been for the men who had gone so trustingly into the jungle, to be
held prisoners by the Malays, and now that they were sure no harm was
being done Captain Hollinger, they felt much more inclined to deal
gently with old Jerry.

"So when you promised dad that you'd have gold on board when he came
back," said Bob with a slow grin, "you meant the treasure, eh?"

Jerry chuckled and nodded.

"Aye, lads, just that. But you'll mind the pumps, eh? You'll not let old
Jerry go without air?"

"Sure not," Mart reassured him. "We'll take care of you fine, Jerry."

The quartermaster reached out for his big helmet, and Bob sprang forward
to assist him. At the same instant, however, they were startled by a
hail from the shore, and looked up to see Birch standing beside the
stranded boat.

"_Seamew_ ahoy!" he called again.

"Well, what do you want?" returned Mart.

"Let me row out alone? I want to talk."

Mart glanced at Bob. "How about it, Holly? I s'pose he wants some grub
and water."

"Let him come out, lads," spoke up Jerry before Bob could reply. "You've
got us, you have; let him come out, lads, and talk it over."

"All right," shouted Mart to the seaman, then turned to Bob. "Holly, you
get up on deck with one o' them rifles. If there's any trouble, you
shoot Jerry, see?"

Bob grimaced behind the quartermaster's back, and ascended the ladder.
Watching the shore, Mart saw Birch turn and say something; the forms of
the other men came from among the bushes and they helped shove out the
boat. The one-eyed seaman leaped into her and settled down at the oars.

As Jerry was firmly anchored down by his weights and heavy boots, Mart
had no fear of any