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, that's neither here nor there now. When you're quite ready we will make a move. There's a fair breeze."

Dave, however, was not inclined to hurry away.

"I can't get the idea of that hut out of my mind," he said slowly.

"What about it?"

"Well, suppose some of the people off the Hatteras got ashore here, don't you think they would have made an effort to fetch the platinum off the bark as soon as they had a chance?"

"Why, yes, I suppose they would," agreed Tempest, wrinkling his brows. "I've thought of that already. Even at this minute it may be buried somewhere on Tai-o-Vai, but we're not out exactly on a mining expedition. You are not proposing digging all over the island, are you?"

"No, Tempest," said Dave, seriously, "but I surely would like to see exactly what there is in that hut. It wouldn't take us very long to dig it out, would it?"