ow what do you think
of that?"

"What is it?" asked Berwick in alarm.

"Look there on the wharf."

"By the beard of Neptune! You're right!" exclaimed Berwick, dropping his
oars in his surprise, and nearly capsizing the boat as he grabbed for
one.

"Easy there, old fellow," cautioned Jim, "remember I haven't got my
bathing suit on."

"What in the name of all that is wonderful is _he_ doing there?"

"Looks as if he was taking a nap," said Jim. "Sh! Don't wake him!" as
Berwick with his hand to his mouth was about to call. "We'll crawl up on
him and take him by surprise."

"Make him think old Broome has got him," chuckled the engineer.

Berwick pulled the boat gradually up to the wharf, and after making
fast, the two conspirators climbed up on to the wharf and crept toward
the unsuspecting Juarez, as has already been told in the opening chapter
of this book.

Juarez had not recognized his antagonist, and struggled furiously. The
two rolled and tumbled about on the floor of the wharf, there being no
time or opportunity for any explanation. Berwick, who had watched the
outcome of the "surprise" with amusement, thinking it had gone far
enough, was about to interfere, when Jo and Tom, who had come up
unobserved, threw themselves into the melee, and in a trice had Jim
secure and powerless to move.

"Whew!" panted Juarez. "That was a close call."

"I told you to watch out!" declared Jo. "But it isn't Broome."

"Jo! Tom!" called Berwick, who was shaking with laughter at the turn the
affair had taken. He stepped out of the shadow where he had been hiding.

"Hallo!" cried Tom, suspiciously. "Who is it?"

"It is I, John Berwick," responded the engineer, between peals of
laughter. "Better let your captive up, but keep out of his reach. It's
Jim."

"Jim!" exclaimed Jo and Tom together. "What is Jim doing here?"

"Just giving Juarez a little surprise party," explained Berwick.

Promptly while still talking the boys had released Jim, who got on his
feet sputtering and angry.

"Hold on, Jim," expostulated Berwick. "It's all your own fault. You
brought it on yourself. But, I say, Juarez, where did you come from?"

"Just came on from home," said Juarez. "Thought I'd give _you_ a
surprise."

"You did all right," laughed Berwick. "It seems to have been a surprise
party all around."

"Ho!" cried Jo, "that ain't all, we've got a bigger surprise yet."

"What is that?"

"What do you say to a trip to the South Seas a