Page:Dave Porter on Cave Island.djvu/185

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

"Mackerel an' codfish! 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' dogfish! 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 shoreline, 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 wishing, is that we'll have good