“That may account for it, but it made me feel a little creepy being in there, and knowing that the water was just above me, and perhaps on the other side of those doors.”

“I don’t wonder.  They say divers get afraid when they see all sorts of fishes swimming around them under water.  I’d like to go to the place with you.  I’ve had some queer adventures, but nothing so queer as that.”

“I should be very glad to have you, sir, and if you want a share of the money in the chest——­”

“No, that’s all right.  It belongs to you and your friend and the little fellow, too, I suppose.”

“Why, of course, they must have their share of it.”

“I don’t think Jesse W. will take it, and, anyhow, he was not with us when we went into the cabin, and I certainly don’t want it,” said Percival.  “It all belongs to you, Jack.”

“Not if I don’t want to take it,” Jack replied with a laugh.  “How are you going to make me take it, Dick?”

“I’m sure I don’t know, but it ought to be yours, just the same.  I’d like to get the rest of it, and suppose we go after it to-morrow?”

“That will be all right.”

“And I’ll go along to help you,” said the captain.  “There’s no getting out of here right away, and we may as well do something.  I can’t get any answer to my wireless messages yet, and maybe folks think they’re only a joke, and don’t pay any attention.”

“You have tried to get New York?” asked Jack.

“Yes, and Havana and any place I can, but I can’t do anything.  I don’t know if I am tuned up with those fellows or whether they think it is only a joke or what.  I’ve tried American and International, wired S.O.S. and all the different distress signals, but could not seem to make connection.”

“Why don’t you try Mr. Smith in New York?  He would be interested on account of his boy.  Try a plain commercial message.  That ought to go.  You can at least try it.”

“That is very sensible advice,” said the doctor.  “I suppose you have been sending out distress signals, and the wireless people, if they have caught you up simply regard it as a hoax.”

“Well, I’ll try again, and do as the young man suggests.  In the meantime I’d like to visit this wreck.  I never was in a ship’s cabin under water when it was safe, and I’d like to try it.”

“We will go to-morrow,” said Jack.

CHAPTER IX

THE LAST VISIT TO THE WRECK

The next day, as agreed upon, they went to the old wreck on the rocks to get more of the treasure in the hold, and to satisfy the captain’s curiosity about the place.

It had gotten around among the boys that Jack and Dick had found a sunken treasure, and there were stories of fabulous wealth afloat in a short time, all the boys, with a few exceptions, wishing to visit the place and gaze upon the buried gold with their own eyes.