“Look at the boy!” shouted Arnold.  “Good old Rowdy!  Good dog!”

“What’s that he has in his mouth?” inquired Charley.

“That, my friend,” explained Arnold, who sat near Rowdy, “is what every dog gets when he runs fast—­pants.”

“Stop your joking, Arnold,” cautioned Jack.  “Look at that bloody ear of Rowdy’s.  He’s been shot.  That’s some of Lopez’s work.”

At once a rush was made for the white bulldog.  Rowdy seemed to pay little attention to the lacerated ear, pierced by the outlaw’s bullet, but paraded the cabin exhibiting the cloth proudly.

“I do believe he got a piece of Lopez’s trousers!” declared Jack exultantly.  Then giving Rowdy an approving slap he continued, “There’s one time Lopez got a reminder his presence wasn’t wanted.”

“True enough,” agreed Frank, “but he may return when things have quieted down, and when he comes back he may be prepared to do serious damage.  That gang is desperate and will hesitate at nothing.”

“Let ’em come,” boasted Arnold, jumping up from his position on a locker where he was trying to cajole Rowdy into parting with the souvenir which he had brought aboard the Fortuna.

“Yes, let ’em come,” stoutly agreed Harry.  “There are enough of us here so we can stand watch and watch tonight and be prepared to keep off all intruders.  And we’ll use force, if necessary, too.”

“It’s a problem,” Jack said thoughtfully.  “I’m sure I don’t know what to do.  Those fellows may contemplate and execute serious damage to the Fortuna and to her crew.  Again, they may be so near the treasure they’ll only think of remaining near that to guard it.”

“By the way, Jack, where is this fort?  Rather, where was it?”

“As nearly as I am able to determine just now, it was located on the north side of that point that lies on the east side of the bay.  There’s a bayou sets up to the eastward from that point and it is on the chart here as ‘Fort Bayou,’ so I think that must have been the place.  Anyhow, that’s the place to which I have been directed.”

“Here it is,” cried Charley, who had been examining the chart.  “Here it says, ‘Old Spanish Fort.’  It’s just where you said it was.”

“Then we’ll go over there in the morning, if you like.”

“Let’s go over there tonight,” urged Tom.  “There’s going to be a fine moon and we’re all interested, so we won’t sleep any.”

“Sure!  That would be fine,” scorned Harry.  “All of us go across the bay looking for this old treasure and Wyckoff will have a free hand to come in and sink the good ship Fortuna.”

“We can draw straws and leave a watch here,” suggested Tom.

“And Wyckoff or Lopez throw a stick of dynamite over on deck and up in the air they’d go!  Why not take the Fortuna along?”

“I don’t think there’s water enough over there,” Jack objected.

“Well, then, I’ll tell you what we’ll do,” began Harry, “we’ll all of us hold an election.  Let Doright in on it and Carlos and—­”