“I couldn’t see nor hear anything of the old hooker and I just drifted without knowin’ where I was goin’ and not carin’ much nuther, bein’ wet to the hide an’ tired out with bailin’ an’ just ready to flop down an’ quit.

“Well, I drifted an’ drifted without knowin’ where I was driftin’, till finally I seen a shore at some distance off an’ took the oars an’ pulled for it, havin’ somethin’ to think of now.

“It was still a-rainin’, but I didn’t care for that now, but just pulled for shore till it got dark again and stopped rainin’, which was a comfort.  I pulled on till it was too dark to see anythin’, and then I come to a stake stickin’ out of the water and hitched my boat to it and lay in the bottom an’ went right to sleep.

“As long as I was tethered to the stake or bush or whatever it was I reckoned I was all right, an’ so I slep’ on without feelin’ a bit alarmed, knowin’ that I wouldn’t drift no more an’ in the mornin’ I could go on an’ reach the shore.

“When I woke up in the mornin’ I was mightily astonished to find myself lyin’ on the ground at the foot of a big tree and to find the boat hangin’ to the topmost limb.  Ye see, the rainwater had run off an’ left the ground bare again, and as the boat slipped down to the perpendickalar I was dropped out an’ went from branch to branch till——­”

Percival let out a hearty laugh and fairly shook himself, saying at last when he could find breath: 

“Baron Munchausen with variations.  I’ve heard that story before, Ben, but the rain was snow and the twig was a church steeple.  Still, it’s a good story and will bear a bit of a change.”

“H’m!  I knowed you’d say I was lyin’!” grunted Ben, pulling heartily on his oar and cutting his story short.

Dick put the bag of gold and the letters Jack had picked up in his trunk under his berth and locked it, saying nothing at that time to any one, but resolving to go again with Jack, and bring away the chest if they could manage it.

He meant to tell the doctor about their wonderful find when they had all of it safely in their possession, and to have the letters translated so as to learn definitely all about the wrecked vessel and its mission, but just now he thought it wise to say nothing and Jack agreed with him.

Not all of the boys were on the yacht when the two young adventurers returned, and nothing was said about their having to hail the yacht, but as the others began to arrive, some time later, Percival watched them in turn to see if he could distinguish guilty looks on the faces of any.

When Herring and Merritt came on board he suddenly stepped out from behind a funnel, which had hidden him so that the two bullies did not see him till just as he faced them.

Both of them showed surprise, and Percival said to himself: 

“They are the ones, just as I supposed.  When anything happens to me or Jack and especially to Jack, look out for Pete Herring.”