confidence. They went through the captain's cabin and two others that
had evidently been set apart for the mates. Except one or two sodden
mattresses and a huddled bunch of mouldy bed coverings, there was
nothing of the slightest value. Whatever there had been at the time of
the wreck had either been washed overboard or taken possession of by the
authorities, shortly after the wreck occurred.

"Nothing more to see here," declared Bill, after a brief look around. "I
guess we'd better join the other fellows now. Lester'll be anxious to
get going."

"Right-o," acceded Fred. "Let's get a move on."

But something, he did not know what, moved Teddy to stay a little
longer.

"You fellows go back and unfasten the rope," he suggested, "and I'll be
with you in a minute."

They went slowly back to the stern and started to untie the rope,
bantering meanwhile with Lester and Ross, who were getting restive.

Teddy ran forward toward the bow and looked into the gloomy depths of
the forecastle. He could see that the floor was solid, but it was some
inches deep in water. He hesitated only a moment and then leaped lightly
down.

Three minutes later, Fred and Bill were startled to see Teddy running
toward them, his face as white as chalk and his eyes blazing with
excitement.

"What's the matter?" they cried in alarm, leaping to their feet.

Teddy tried to speak, but for a moment no words came.

"The m-m-map!" he stuttered at last. "It's in the f-forecastle!"

"The map?" repeated Bill blankly.

A light sprang into Fred's eyes.

"Do you mean the map that the sailor carved?" he demanded, clutching his
brother's arm with a force like a vise.

Teddy nodded, still a prey to his tremendous agitation.

"But how can it be?" asked Fred wildly. "This isn't the _Ranger_."

"How do you know it isn't?" cried Bill, catching the contagion. "Her
name was changed, you remember."

"What are you fellows chinning about up there?" demanded Lester, with a
touch of impatience in his voice.

"Lester!" called Fred. "Scrape the paint off the name on the stern
there, and see if you can make out anything underneath."

Lester took out his claspknife and scraped vigorously.

"There has been something else there," he announced after a moment, "but
I can't fully make it out. I can see a couple of R's----"

"That's it," shouted Fred jubilantly. "It's the old _Ranger_. Come
aboard, you fellows. Lively, now. Don't mind about the boats. They're
s