"We'll take dinner ashore if you say so, fellows," he said.

"Oh, I don't know," said Jack. "I don't believe these natives down in
this country know how to cook anything fit to eat."

Frank smiled.

"I fancy you have a few notions that will be knocked out of your head
after you have been down this way a short time. You still seem to fancy
you are going into a howling wilderness where there are only savages and
half-civilized white people."

"Perhaps we are," said Jack, by way of being odd. "You don't know
yourself, for this is your first visit down here."

Out through the mist came a tiny steam launch. All at once it was headed
straight toward the _White Wings_.

"She acts as if she is coming for us," said Hodge, scowling.

As the launch came nearer five persons were seen in her. The interest of
the boys increased rapidly, for everything seemed to indicate that she
was making straight for the yacht.

All at once Diamond uttered a cry, turned to Frank and said:

"I knew it! I told you we'd see more of him! See the fellow in the bow
of that launch? It's Parker Flynn!"

CHAPTER V.

A BOARDING PARTY.

"Sure as shooting!" nodded Frank. "He is in a hurry to see me--that's
plain."

"Yes, he couldn't wait till we got into the harbor."

"It's probable he thought we might not come into Rockland after seeing
him on the steamer, and so, as soon as he could get ashore, he hired the
launch to run out and head us off."

"Snell is with him," said Hodge. "Oh, I'd like to get a crack at that
fellow!"

"You may have a chance," smiled Merriwell, coolly.

"How?"

"I don't propose to let those chaps come aboard my yacht unless they
show that they have a right to do so."

"Good for you!" cried Bart, his face growing stern. "I am with you,
Merry!"

"And I!" exclaimed Diamond.

"Vale, I don'd knew but I vos re'dy vor a liddle schraps," observed
Hans.

"Then we will stand by to repel boarders if they try the trick," said
Frank. "Call Browning on deck."

So the big Yale man was called, and he came up in his shirt sleeves. He
was interested immediately the situation was explained to him, and he
seemed well pleased when Frank expressed his intention of preventing the
strangers from boarding without authority.

"This promises to be a real warm morning," he said, with a lazy smile.
"I'm rather glad I'm here."

By this time the launch was close at hand.

"Ahoy the yacht!" called a voice.

"Ay! ay!" cal