Elizabeth_, up the coast o' Maine, jest fourteen years ago. At that
time we had on board Captain Rigger's wife, his mother-in-law, his two
sisters, his brother's wife, his aunt and----"

"Never mind the Rigger family just now, Camel," interrupted Mr. Rover.
"What I want to know is, are you ready to sail?"

"Aye, aye! that I am, and I don't care if it's a trip for two months or
two years. Once when I sailed on the _Sunflower_ the captain said
we'd be out a month, and we struck a storm and drifted almost over to
the coast o' Africy. The water ran low, and----"

"Well, if you are ready to sail, we'll start without further delay,"
interrupted Anderson Rover, and gave the necessary orders to Captain
Barforth.

"Good-bye to home!" cried Dick, and took off his cap. "When we return
may we have the treasure safely stowed away in the hold or the cabin!"

"So say we all of us!" sang out Tom.

Steam was already up and a cloud of smoke was pouring from the funnel
of the steam yacht. The lines were cast off, and a few minutes later
the vessel was on her voyage down the Delaware River to the bay.

"You are sure we have everything necessary for this trip?" asked Mr.
Rover, of the captain.

"Yes, Mr. Rover; I even brought along some picks and shovels," answered
the master of the steam yacht, and smiled faintly. He had little faith
in the treasure hunt being successful, but he thought the trip down
among the West Indies would be well worth taking.

It was a beautiful day, with just sufficient breeze blowing to cool the
July air. While they were steaming down the river the girls and ladies,
and some of the boys, sat on the forward deck taking in the various
sights which presented themselves. There were numerous tugs and sailing
craft, and now and then a big tramp steamer or regular liner, for
Philadelphia has a large commerce with the entire world.

"It hardly seems possible that the treasure hunt has really begun,"
said Dora to Dick.

"Well, it won't actually begin until we are down about where Treasure
Isle is located," was the reply. "We have quite a few days' sailing
before that time comes."

"I hope it remains clear, Dick."

"I am afraid it won't, Dora; there are always more or less storms among
the West Indies."

"I have heard they sometimes have terrible hurricanes," came from
Grace. "I read of one hurricane which flooded some small islands
completely."

"Grace is trying to scare us!" cried Nellie.

"Well, is