interrupted Anderson Rover, and gave the necessary orders to Captain
Barforth.

"Good bye to home!" cried Dick, and took off his cap. "When we return
may we have the treasure safely stowed away in the hold or the cabin!"

"So say we all of us!" sang out Tom.

Steam was already up and a cloud of smoke was pouring from the funnel
of the steam yacht. The lines were cast off, and a few minutes later
the vessel was on her voyage down the Delaware River to the bay.

"You are sure we have everything necessary for this trip?" asked Mr.
Rover, of the captain.

"Yes, Mr. Rover; I even brought along some picks and shovels,"
answered the master of the steam yacht, and smiled faintly. He had
little faith in the treasure hunt being successful, but he thought the
trip down among the West Indies would be well worth taking.

It was a beautiful day, with just sufficient breeze blowing to cool
the July air. While they were steaming down the river the girls and
ladies, and some of the boys, sat on the forward deck taking in the
various sights which presented themselves. There were numerous tugs
and sailing craft, and now and then a big tramp steamer or regular
liner, for Philadelphia has a large commerce with the entire world.

"It hardly seems possible that the treasure hunt has really begun,"
said Dora to Dick.

"Well, it won't actually begin until we are down about where Treasure
Isle is located," was the reply. "We have quite a few days' sailing
before that time comes."

"I hope it remains clear, Dick."

"I am afraid it won't, Dora; there are always more or less storms
among the West Indies."

"I have heard they sometimes have terrible hurricanes," came from
Grace. "I read of one hurricane which flooded some small islands
completely."

"Grace is trying to scare us!" cried Nellie.

"Well, islands have been swept by hurricanes," said Sam, coming to the
rescue of his dearest girl friend. "But let us hope we escape all
heavy storms."

"A steam yacht is not as bad off as a sailing vessel," said Dick. "If
necessary, we can run away from a heavy storm. In a high wind it's a
sailing ship that catches it."

By nightfall they had passed out of Delaware Bay into the Atlantic
Ocean, and then the course was changed to almost due south. As soon as
they got out on the long swells the _Rainbow_ commenced to toss and
pitch considerably.

"Now you can sing a life on the ocean wave!" cried Dick to Songbird.
"How does this suit you?"