raw the man out if possible, and learn
what they could that might serve to confirm their suspicions as to the
purpose of their cruise. As Harry stepped up to the door and brought the
man's entire body into view, he noticed with amazement that he wore a
cartridge belt and pistol holster from which the butt of a revolver
peeped.

"Why, George, what are you carrying a pistol for this morning. Afraid
the crew will mutiny?"

"Always carry gun in danger zone, sah," replied the negro, grinning
still more.

"The whole ship has gone crazy over the danger zone," said Bert.

"Yas, sah," said George Washington. "May have mix-up bime-by," and he
jerked his thumb over his starboard shoulder.

"Mix-up with the captain?"

"Humph. George Wash'n Jenks not such a blame fool's that. Mix-up with
steamer coming up to starboard. May be, may be not. Not such a mucher at
guessing."

"Is that why you are carrying a pistol; because a steamer is coming up?"

"Always carry gun in danger zone, sah," and again the negro grinned
tantalizingly.

"George Washington Jenks, New York, U. S. A., I have a nice, green one
dollar bill saved from a watery grave," said Harry, "and if you will
tell us what the danger zone is, you can have it."

As Harry spoke he pulled a bill out of his pocket and displayed it
temptingly before the negro. George Washington Jenks looked at it
covetously out of the corner of his eye. Then he shook his head proudly.

"Better go ask Cap'n Dynamite. Might be he need the money. George Wash
Jenks don't."

"I guess you are true blue, Wash," laughed Harry, as he put the money
back in his pocket.

"You pretty good guesser, sah. Not such a mucher myself."

The boys, convinced that they could gain no information from the negro,
and realizing the uselessness of attempting to question any others of
the crew, strolled aft again. It seemed to Harry that the thread of
smoke had grown a little thicker. The captain opened his door and
stepped out on deck, glass in hand. He signalled to Suarez, who came aft
at his bidding.

"Can you make her out yet, Suarez?"

"Not yet, captain, but she is headed to cross our bow and should be hull
up in a few minutes."

For five minutes both men stood with their glasses trained on the smoke.
Finally Suarez dropped his to his side with the air of a man who has
learned what he wished to know.

"Yes?" said the captain, interrogatively.

"It's the little one we dodged last time."

"The _Bela