urned out before making for shore. He evidently had
abandoned any desire he had to get aboard the schooner by force.

Jarrow came floundering along, and managed to reach up and grasp
the stern of the long boat, when he pulled himself up and climbed
in. He stood dripping, dashing the water out of his eyes, and
regarded the dinghy.

"Get out!" he bawled, shaking his fist. "Ye can go to the devil,
the whole lot of ye!"

Peth made no reply, but spoke to the rowers, and the dinghy turned
slowly and headed for the island, but waited for Doc to get
alongside, when they helped him aboard, and made off rapidly.

"Them blastered scoundrels!" raged Jarrow, as he rubbed his hands
down over his shirt to squeeze out the water. "I lost my hat."

"Better come aboard, captain," said Trask. "Have you a gun?"

"I wish I had," declared Jarrow, wrathfully. "I'd a-let daylight
through that fool of a Peth! See the game they run on me ashore?"

"We did," said Locke. "You were lucky to get away."

"By the Mighty Nelson!" declared Jarrow, as he clambered over the
side and hurled a shower of water around him like a halo as he
landed on the bone-white deck. "I never did see such a passel o'
fools! Plumb bugs on gold! They think 'cause there ain't any we're
to put a young fortune in their hands! I'll have the coast guard on
'em, that's what, and land every man of 'em in Bilibid for life!"

"Then you're for getting out?" asked Trask.

"You bet I am! Think I want to hang around and palaver with a set
of pirates that'd stick a gun in my face and tell me where I git
off? Not much! What's that Doc pulled on you?"

"A gun," said Trask. "And my own. He had it all the time."

"Well, I'll be jiggered!" declared Jarrow, staring at the weapon
which Trask still held in his hand. "He's a nice one!"

"A smooth article," said Trask. "He fooled me, all right. If it
hadn't been for Tom----" He looked around, but Tom had disappeared
into the galley.

"I'm sure the steward would have shot you," said Marjorie, who had
regained her composure, and now stood beside Trask.

"Looked like it was all off to me," said Locke. "We'll have to
square things with that Chink."

"What's this?" asked Jarrow, looking at the pan and bowl, and the
sand on the deck. "Been lookin' for gold?"

"Tried some of it," said Trask.

"Find any?" asked Jarrow, with quick interest.

"No," said Trask, and Locke appeared startled, but said nothing.

"I better git into some dry