s nobody aboard a stranded vessel--if
she's abandoned, as they say in court--the men who find her can have
her and all that's in her. That's pretty near the law o' the
land--near enough for you, anyway. Contrary, by law, b'y," with
another impressive tap, "if they is one o' the crew aboard, he's a
right to shoot down any man who comes over the side against his will.
That's _exactly_ the law. Do you follow?"

"But I've no mind for shootin' at so good-natured a man," said Billy,
recalling the fisherman's broad grin.

"An' I hope you won't have to," said the skipper. "But they's no harm
in aiming an empty gun anywhere you've a mind to. So far as I know,
they's no harm in firin' away a blast or two o' powder if you forget
t' put in the shot."

Billy laughed.

"Billy, boy," said Archie, tremulously, "it's up to you to save the
firm of Topsail, Armstrong, Grimm & Company."

"All right, Archie," said Billy.

"I _know_ it's all right," Archie declared.

"They's just two things to remember," said the skipper, from the bow
of the punt, before casting off. "The first is to stay aboard; the
second is to let nobody else come aboard if you can help it. 'Tis all
very simple."

"All right, skipper," said Billy.

"Topsail--Armstrong--Grimm--_and_--Company," were the last words Billy
Topsail heard; and they came from Archie Armstrong.

CHAPTER XXXII

_In Which the "Grand Lake" Conducts Herself In a Most
Peculiar Fashion to the Chagrin of the Crew of the "Spot
Cash"_

Skipper Bill and the punt of the stranded _Spot Cash_ made the harbour
at Hook-and-Line in good season to intercept the _Grand Lake_. She was
due--she would surely steam in--that very day, said the men of
Hook-and-Line. And it seemed to Archie Armstrong that everything now
depended on the _Grand Lake_. It would be hopeless--Skipper Bill had
said so and the boys needed no telling--it would be hopeless to
attempt to get the _Spot Cash_ off Blow-Me-Down Rock in an unfriendly
harbour without the steamer's help.

"'Tis fair hard t' believe that the Jolly Harbour folk would give us
no aid," said Jimmie Grimm.

Skipper Bill laughed. "You've no knowledge o' Jolly Harbour," said
he.

"'Tis a big expense these robbers are putting us to," Archie growled.

"Robbers?" Bill drawled. "Well, they're a decent, God-fearin' folk,
with their own ideas about a wreck."

Archie sniffed.

"I've no doubt," the skipper returned, "that they're thankin' God