gone to sea in search of a gold
mine. And there are other reasons which make this trip unique."

"You are absurdly reticent, Mr. Trask."

"Under the circumstances it would be unfair to state the facts in
their blunt simplicity," he retorted, with a smile.

"You mean father and me?"

"Mostly you," and he moved forward abruptly to tell Doc Bird to put
his bags in his room.

Locke and Jarrow came out of the main cabin and paid off the
_patron_ of the tug.

"Well, we're off," said Locke, coming aft, as Jarrow went forward
to oversee the getting of the anchor and the passing of the
hawser. Bevins came aft presently and took the wheel, and in a few
minutes the _Nuestra_ started down the bay at the end of her leash.

Well under way, Jarrow called Peth to the main cabin and introduced
him to Marjorie, Locke, and Trask, who had been summoned below for
the assignment of their rooms.

Peth stood in the doorway and bowed, looking quite smart and
respectable in clean dungarees, and though he said nothing but "How
de do," he gave the impression of affability mixed with shyness. He
missed no detail of Trask's clothing, and seemed to measure the
young man's strength as he looked him up and down.

"Now, Miss Locke, you'll have this room aft, to port, next is Mr.
Locke, and then Mr. Trask. Then comes the cabin stores. I'll be aft
to starboard, Mr. Peth and Captain Dinshaw next, the cook and the
steward, and the galley----"

"If ye don't mind, cap'n," interrupted Peth, "I'd not want to bunk
with the old man. I got to be up and around nights."

"All right," said Jarrow. "There are two bunks in Mr. Trask's room
here. Maybe you wouldn't find it out of the way if Mr. Peth took
the lower?"

"Not at all," said Trask. "I'll sleep soundly enough."

"My gear's in there now," said Peth, and he went out on deck.

"I'd git my stuff all opened up and stowed while we're in the bay,"
suggested Jarrow. "There may be a swell on outside, and then it's
goin' to be hot below as the sun climbs. Tom! How's that coffee
comin' on?"

The fat Chinese cook looked out from the galley, a white cap on his
head and an apron tied about him. He grinned pleasantly, and
replied that the coffee was on the fire.

"We had breakfast," said Locke.

"I'd take a nip of coffee," said Jarrow. "Now then, here's Doc Bird
to help open your gear. Anything you want, ask for it, and you,
Doc, keep an eye out to make all hands comfortable. I got to go up
now."