, I didn't know
what, slipping under the blankets.

"Now I can understand why you were so nervous, and wanted to hurry
off," said Phil. "You were afraid the fierce colonel would come back,
and search our craft for stowaways."

"Sure I was; I admit it," echoed Larry. "But Phil, you really meant
what you said just now, didn't you--about wanting to shake hands with
the boy who knocked Bob Brashears galley west, you know?"

Phil turned to the sallow-faced, defiant figure that was observing
their every action. The boy looked as though ready to brave them to
their face, if so be they turned out to be new enemies; or even take a
header over the side, should they show signs of wanting to detain him
against his will.

But as soon as he looked into the smiling countenance of Phil he must
have realized that in taking this liberty of boarding the motor boat,
when so hard pressed by his enemies, he had made a lucky move indeed.
For in those friendly eyes he saw genuine warmth.

"Shake hands, won't you, my friend?" said Phil, thrusting out his own
digits in the free and easy fashion customary with boys. "I'm glad you
punched that Bob Brashears. I hope his black eye will hang to him for
a month. And I'd have given a heap to have seen the mill when you
licked him. I'm only surprised he dared tackle you alone, big cub that
he is."

"Huh!" the boy broke out with, as a glimmer of a smile appeared
flickering athwart his thin, serious looking face; "they was two of
'em, mister. But t'other, he run like a scart rabbit the first crack
he got under his ear."

Then Larry insisted on also squeezing his hand warmly.

"When I heard that man say they were chasing a boy," he remarked, "I
knew what it was I'd seen scramble under the blankets; and I made up my
mind that they wasn't going to get you, if we had to fight for it.
Just to think of seven hulking men after one small boy. But we're too
far away now for any of them to get you; and perhaps you'd like to stay
aboard till we reach your home below; because we expect to pass all the
way to the gulf, you see. He'd be welcome, wouldn't he, Phil?"

"Sure he would," affirmed the other, heartily, as he eyed the boy; and
perhaps a dim suspicion that he might find the fugitive valuable as a
guide began to flit through his mind then and there.

"We've got oceans of grub aboard; and perhaps you wouldn't mind helping
out in the cooking line; because, you see, I'm the one in charge of
t