's comment, and it is probable that his surmise
was correct.

"I see a light!" cried Songbird, when they were on the point of
retiring. "It is out on the water."

He pointed, and soon all made out the lights of a vessel in the
distance. Then, as the craft came closer, they saw a rocket shoot up
in the air, followed by a Roman candle.

"It's the _Rainbow_!" shouted Dick. "That must be some sort of signal
for us!"

"But where is the _Josephine_" asked Tom.

Nobody knew, and just then nobody cared. Captain Barforth ran down to
the water's edge and prepared to launch one of the small boats.

"I am going out to my vessel," he said. "Hollbrook, come along. If
everything is all right, we'll send two rockets up or fire the cannon
twice. Then you had better bring the treasure on board without delay."

This was agreed to, and in a moment more the captain and his man were
afloat and rowing toward the opening of the reef with all their might.
Those left behind waited anxiously for what might follow.

"The steam yacht may be in the hands of the enemy," said Songbird, but
he was mistaken, for quarter of an hour later up went two rockets into
the air. Then the searchlight struck the water, and those on shore saw
a rowboat put off and head for land.

"It's Bahama Bill and one of the sailors," cried Tom, a little later.
And then he raised his voice as the rowboat shot into the bay. "This
way, Bill, this way!"

Soon the rowboat struck the sand and Bahama Bill leaped out. His face
was one broad smile.

"So ye got the treasure after all, did ye!" he cried. "I'm powerful
glad on it, yes, sir! Now we'll fool that Merrick crowd good!"

"But what of them and of their vessel?" asked Anderson Rover
anxiously.

"Broke down an' drifting out on the ocean," answered the old tar, and
then he continued: "You know how they tried to board us--after
Carey, Bossermann, that skunk o' a Wingate, an' Ulligan went to 'em.
Well, fust we kept 'em off with fireworks and with a shotgun. We
didn't have much steam up, but Frank Norton--bless his heart--
worked like a beaver, and the boys, Fred and Hans, helped him. I went
to steer an' by good luck kept off the rocks an' reefs. They came
after us pell mell an' onct or twict we thought sure they had us, an'
all o' us got pistols and cutlasses an' prepared to fight. The ladies
an' the gals was most scared to death an' locked themselves in their
staterooms. But we put some ile on the fire an' putty soo