ey're queer," agreed Mart thoughtfully. "I tell you, Holly,
let's go back and put it up to your dad. He said he'd have more time to
give us, now, and he's a mighty square sort of man."

"Yes, but we promised Jerry to keep quiet!" objected Bob hastily.

"Well, we don't have to say anythin' about the Pirate Shark, do we? That
ain't what's on my mind, anyhow. I'm thinking about what they said about
getting to Singapore or Saigon, and about the _Coralie_ and the
_Melbourne_, and all that. If they're a gang of pirates, we want to know
it. And your dad's level-headed, Holly."

To this Bob agreed, being himself in no little alarm over the things he
had heard and the other things he imagined. So without more ado the two
boys made their way back to the hotel, and with every step their
imaginations rose higher. By the time they located Captain Hollinger in
the writing room, both were flushed and bursting with their tidings.
When the captain saw them, he gave a startled exclamation.

"Good gracious! What've you boys been up to? What's the matter?"

"Come along up to the rooms," said Bob mysteriously. "We've got some
news."

Captain Hollinger followed them, with laughing questions as to their
evening's amusement, but neither boy would say a word until they were
safely within their rooms. Then Mart whirled about excitedly.

"Say, Cap'n, do you know we got a bunch o' pirates aboard the _Seamew_?"

"We've--_what_?"

"You bet!" added Bob hastily. "Old Jerry Smith's the head of the gang,
and Joe Swanson was with 'em on a pirate ship!"

"Look here, what's happened to you two?" exclaimed the captain
wonderingly. "Are you trying to put up a joke on me?"

"Not much," retorted Mart, and plunged into their story. With
interruptions and additions from his chum, he managed to finish it with
some degree of coherence, Captain Hollinger listening without comment.
When they had done, he looked at Mart soberly.

"And you honestly believe those old men are pirates, eh?"

"Well, don't it look like it?" answered Mart stoutly.

Captain Hollinger looked from him to the excited Bob, then with a
stifled shout of laughter he dropped into a chair. For a moment he gave
way completely to a wild spasm of mirth, laughing as Mart had never seen
him laugh before, while the two boys began to feel sheepish and
uncomfortable.

"Pirates!" gasped the captain at length. "Pirates! Oh, this is rich! Old
Jerry Smith--steady Joe Swanson--Wow! It's the best