Part 28 (1/2)

”They tell me it is pretty warm down there,” said Roger. ”So we had better buy some thin suits.”

”And we had better go armed,” added Phil. ”No telling what trouble we may run into, in trying to corner Merwell and Jasniff. Merwell is no great fighter, but Jasniff is a brute.”

”Yes, I'll take no chances with Jasniff,” answered Dave. He had not forgotten his quarrel at Oak Hall with that bully, and how Jasniff had attacked him with an Indian club, as related in detail in ”Dave Porter's Return to School.”

At last all was in readiness for the trip, and the boys and the other pa.s.sengers, four burly Englishmen, went aboard. Fortunately, the _Golden Eagle_ was well provided with staterooms, so there was but little crowding. Dave had a small room to himself and next to him were his chums, with Captain Sanders and the first mate opposite. Billy Dill was, of course, in the forecastle with the other sailors.

”It's grand to have you along ag'in,” he said, to Dave and Phil.

”Seems like old times, when we sailed the Pacific.”

”So it does,” answered our hero.

”Only ye ain't a-lookin' for no uncle this trip, be you?” And the old tar chuckled.

”No, Billy, we are looking for somebody quite different-two rascals who ran away with a lot of diamonds.”

”Mackerel an' codfis.h.!.+ Ye don't tell me, Dave! Your diamonds?”

”No, but some diamonds that were left with a close friend of mine. If they are not recovered, my friend will be almost ruined.”

”Jumpin' dogfis.h.!.+ Then I hope you catch them lubbers! If so be I can help ye any, don't be afeered to call on me,” added the old sailor, earnestly.

”All right; I'll remember that,” replied Dave.

Early the next day the _Golden Eagle_ slipped down the St. John's River and past the jetties and the lighthouse into the Atlantic Ocean.

It was warm and clear, with a good wind blowing from the west, an ideal day for the departure. The boys remained on deck, watching the scenery of the winding stream and then the fading sh.o.r.eline, and then went below to arrange their belongings, for the trip to Barbados would occupy some time.

”I hope we don't get seasick,” remarked the senator's son.

”Well, if we do, we'll have to stand it,” replied Phil. ”But don't let's think about it.”

”What I am wis.h.i.+ng, is that we'll have good weather and a quick pa.s.sage,” remarked Dave. ”We can't get to Barbados any too quick for me.”

”I was looking up the place in the s.h.i.+pping-guide,” went on Roger.

”It's not much of an island, only twenty-one miles long by fifteen wide. The whole population is only about two hundred thousand, mostly English.”

”The smaller the population the easier it will be to find Merwell and Jasniff,” was the comment of the s.h.i.+powner's son.

”Well, there may be a good many hiding-places on an island twenty-one miles long by fifteen miles wide,” added Dave, with a grin.

”Oh, we'll rake the island with a fine-tooth comb, if we have to,”

cried Roger.

”Roger, was your father quite willing to let you go on the trip?”

”Yes. He and mother are now in Was.h.i.+ngton, you know, and as the school is closed, I'd either have to go to the Capital, or stay with you. And I told him I'd much rather be with you and Phil.”

”And we are glad to have you with us!” cried Phil, and Dave nodded, to show that he felt the same way about it.

”What do you think about the other pa.s.sengers?” asked Phil, in a lower voice, so that n.o.body else might hear.