y, that was a great little thought, for the _Agnes_ has a
high-powered glim, and when I swung it onto that excursion boat it made
theirs look like a boardin'-house gas jet with the pressure low. You
could see the folks blinkin' and battin' their eyes as if they was half
blinded. Nest I picks up the pilot house and gives the man at the
wheel the full benefit.

"Hey! Take off that light," he sings out. "I can't see where I'm
runnin'. Take it off!"

"Switch off yours, then, you mutt," says I, "and run your cheap
sandwich gang back where they belong under the hominy vines."

My, don't that raise a howl, though! They wanted to mob us for keeps
then, and all sorts of junk begun to fly through the air. Then Cap'n
Lennon took a hand.

"Sheer off there!" he orders, "or I'll turn the fire hose on yon."

Well, the excursion captain stayed long enough to pass the time of day,
but when he saw the sailors unreelin' the hose he got a move on; and in
half an hour we was lyin' quiet again in the moonlight.

Must have been well on towards midnight, and I was just ready to turn
in when Mr. Ellins comes paddin' out of his stateroom, luggin' two
pairs of hip rubber boots.

"Torchy," says he, "call Killam, will you?"

By the time I'd routed out Rupert, I finds Auntie and Vee waitin' in
the main cabin, all dressed for travel.

"I may be the oldest joke on record," says Old Hickory, "but I propose
to know before morning what is in that mound. Of course, if anyone
feels foolish about going--"

"I do, for one," speaks up Auntie, "and I should think you would, too,
Matthew Ellins. We've been told how silly we are enough times
to-night, haven't we?"

"We have," says Old Hickory. "Which is just why I propose to see this
thing through."

"And I am quite as stubborn as you are," says Auntie. "That is why I
am going, too."

Vee and I didn't put up any apologies. We just trailed along silent.
As for Rupert, he'd been kicked around so much the last few days that
he hadn't a word to say. Here he was, too, right on the verge of the
big test that he'd been workin' up to so long, and he's so meek he
hardly dares open his head. When we starts pilin' into the launch he
shows up with a couple of bundles.

"What the syncopated seraphims have you there?" demands Old Hickory.

"Gas bombs," says Rupert. "To clear out the snakes."

"Careful with 'em," growls Old Hickory. "What else?"

"A few canvas bags for--for the treasure, s