“Bright boy,” Jack responded.  “We’ll do that same and then go uptown for some more supplies.  I wonder where we can get some gasolene.  We ought to have a wagon load of the stuff.”

“Yes, we surely need it and if we get any more of that Madero lad on board we’ll need to have a wagon go along with us.”

“Wonder where he is now,” Frank mused.  “He certainly was a great lad.  He didn’t look so bad at heart.  He looked to me as if he had gotten into bad company and didn’t know the way out.”

“He’s a bright fellow, surely,” agreed Jack.  “Now let’s get to work.  Where is the foreman?  We’ll need him first.”

In due course the necessary steps were taken and the Fortuna was again in the water.  Not even an expert could have discovered the place where Wyckoff had bored the hole that so nearly cost the lives of the lads aboard the trim craft.  She was again seaworthy.

A trip to the business part of town was made to select necessary supplies and order a stock of fuel.  This occupied the better part of the day, for the lads were careful in their buying.  They were well posted as to value and refused to allow the local merchants to overcharge them for any goods.

At length the supplies were all aboard and stowed in their places.  The gasolene wagon had driven away and the boys felt more confident with full lockers and gasolene tanks.

“We’re ready for a night’s rest and a long cruise,” declared Tom, as the boys sat down to a supper of fried fish, sweet potatoes and coffee.  A bone from the nearby butcher shop had been provided for Rowdy who lay upon a newspaper spread in a corner of the cabin, munching in peace.  His manner recently had been quite composed.  Everything about the Fortuna seemed to speak of peace.

How little the boys knew what a few more hours held in store for them.  How unfortunate, indeed, were they that the knowledge of future events was withheld.  They might not have enjoyed the supper so much had they been aware of all that was to transpire.

Discussing the events of the past few hours, speculating upon the possible location of their chums, making plans for the future, the boys sat late about the table.  Rowdy fell asleep over his bone.  At last Tom jumped up, declaring he would wash the dishes if the others would sweep and put the cabin to rights.

Busily the boys went at their tasks and soon the Fortuna was once more “Ship shape and Bristol Fashion,” as Jack loved to say.

“What do you suppose Wyckoff meant when he said our pals are out of the way and we are next?” questioned Frank, a trifle uneasily, as his mind traveled back to the last time he had seen Charley and his launch the “Spray.”  “Do you suppose he meant—­”

“Nothing of the sort,” interrupted Jack.  “Unless it was an accident, I can’t believe that those villains would make away with the boy as you mean.  I think he is alive and well, but being detained by Wyckoff and his gang until they have a chance to make another effort for this mythical treasure.  Then the lads will be free.”