Dave Porter on Cave Island Part 28

"They tell me it is pretty warm down there," said Roger. "So we had better buy some thin suits."

"And we had better go armed," added Phil. "No telling what trouble we may run into, in trying to corner Merwell and Jasniff. Merwell is no great fighter, but Jasniff is a brute."

"Yes, I'll take no chances with Jasniff," answered Dave. He had not forgotten his quarrel at Oak Hall with that bully, and how Jasniff had attacked him with an Indian club, as related in detail in "Dave Porter's Return to School."

At last all was in readiness for the trip, and the boys and the other pa.s.sengers, four burly Englishmen, went aboard. Fortunately, the _Golden Eagle_ was well provided with staterooms, so there was but little crowding. Dave had a small room to himself and next to him were his chums, with Captain Sanders and the first mate opposite. Billy Dill was, of course, in the forecastle with the other sailors.

"It's grand to have you along ag'in," he said, to Dave and Phil.

"Seems like old times, when we sailed the Pacific."

"So it does," answered our hero.

"Only ye ain't a-lookin' for no uncle this trip, be you?" And the old tar chuckled.

"No, Billy, we are looking for somebody quite different-two rascals who ran away with a lot of diamonds."

"Mackerel an' codfis.h.!.+ Ye don't tell me, Dave! Your diamonds?"

"No, but some diamonds that were left with a close friend of mine. If they are not recovered, my friend will be almost ruined."

"Jumpin' dogfis.h.!.+ Then I hope you catch them lubbers! If so be I can help ye any, don't be afeered to call on me," added the old sailor, earnestly.

"All right; I'll remember that," replied Dave.

Early the next day the _Golden Eagle_ slipped down the St. John's River and past the jetties and the lighthouse into the Atlantic Ocean.

It was warm and clear, with a good wind blowing from the west, an ideal day for the departure. The boys remained on deck, watching the scenery of the winding stream and then the fading sh.o.r.eline, and then went below to arrange their belongings, for the trip to Barbados would occupy some time.

"I hope we don't get seasick," remarked the senator's son.

"Well, if we do, we'll have to stand it," replied Phil. "But don't let's think about it."

"What I am wis.h.i.+ng, is that we'll have good weather and a quick pa.s.sage," remarked Dave. "We can't get to Barbados any too quick for me."

"I was looking up the place in the s.h.i.+pping-guide," went on Roger.

"It's not much of an island, only twenty-one miles long by fifteen wide. The whole population is only about two hundred thousand, mostly English."

"The smaller the population the easier it will be to find Merwell and Jasniff," was the comment of the s.h.i.+powner's son.

"Well, there may be a good many hiding-places on an island twenty-one miles long by fifteen miles wide," added Dave, with a grin.

"Oh, we'll rake the island with a fine-tooth comb, if we have to,"

cried Roger.

"Roger, was your father quite willing to let you go on the trip?"

"Yes. He and mother are now in Was.h.i.+ngton, you know, and as the school is closed, I'd either have to go to the Capital, or stay with you. And I told him I'd much rather be with you and Phil."

"And we are glad to have you with us!" cried Phil, and Dave nodded, to show that he felt the same way about it.

"What do you think about the other pa.s.sengers?" asked Phil, in a lower voice, so that n.o.body else might hear.

"I don't think I'll like them very much," replied the senator's son.

"That man named Geswick is very loud and dictatorial."

"Yes, and the chap named Pardell is little better," returned Dave.

"What line are they in, Phil, did you hear?"

"Oh, they are traveling, that's all. They came to this country from London, and they are going back by the way of Barbados."

"They seem to have some money."

"Yes, but Captain Sanders told me that they hang on to it pretty well-more so than he at first expected they would."

The first day pa.s.sed rapidly and the _Golden Eagle_ made good headway.

The boys spent most of the time on deck, amusing themselves as best they could. They talked to Captain Sanders and his mate, and also visited with Billy Dill. Occasionally they conversed with the four Englishmen, but they noticed that the Britishers were inclined to keep to themselves.

"I guess it is just as well, too," said Dave to his chums. "They are not our sort at all."

"Unless I miss my guess, they have had some sort of quarrel among themselves," remarked Phil. "They were disputing over something early this morning and again just before dinner."

Several days pa.s.sed, and the boys commenced to feel quite at home on the s.h.i.+p. None of them had been seasick, for which all were thankful.

"The weather has been in our favor," said Captain Sanders. "If it keeps on like this, we'll make Barbados in record time."

"Billy Dill said he smelt a storm," returned Dave.

"Hum! Is that so?" mused the captain. "Well, he's a pretty good weather-sharp, I must confess. I'll take another look at the gla.s.s,"

and he walked off to do so.

The storm came up during the night, and Dave was awakened to find himself rolling from one side of his berth to the other. He arose, and as he did so he heard an exclamation from Roger.

"What is it, Roger?" he called out.

"I-I guess I'm seasick!" answered the senator's son. "Gracious, how this old tub rolls!"

"Don't call the _Golden Eagle_ a tub!" returned Phil. "Say, can I do anything for you?" he went on sympathetically.

"Yes, tell Captain Sanders to keep the boat from rocking."

"Better lie down again, Roger," said Dave, entering the stateroom.

"It's a little better than standing up."

"Oh, I-I guess I'm not so very ba-badly off," gasped the sufferer.

"But I do wish the storm was over."

"We all wish that."