“But that isn’t so, is it?” asked Sam.

“No; the treasure, if it is found, belongs to Mr. Stanhope’s estate absolutely—­that is, to Mrs. Stanhope, Dora and the Lanings.  The fact that Silas Merrick had an interest in the ship at the time of the stealing of the wealth cuts no figure at all.”

“What is Sid Merrick doing?” asked Tom.

“He has been working in secret, looking for Bahama Jack and the Spaniard, Doranez.  I found out that he had one talk with Bahama Jack, but the sailor did not like Merrick and told him very little.  Then I started to find Doranez—­he is the man I have been after during the past week.  I found him and he promised to work with me if I would pay him for his trouble.  But yesterday he sent me a note, stating he had changed his mind and was going to Spain, to look up some of his relatives.  So he is probably out of it from now on.”

“Maybe he is going to look for the treasure on his own account,” suggested Randolph Rover.

“He cannot do that very well, for he has little or no money.”

“And what do you propose to do, father—­go on a hunt for the treasure?” asked Dick.

“Yes.  From what papers I have on hand and the information gotten from Bahama Jack I think we stand a fair chance of locating that island and of finding the cave where the treasure is secreted.  Of course, there is a good deal of guess work about it, but I am convinced the thing is worth trying.”

“And how are you going at it?” came from Tom.

“A friend of mine in Philadelphia, a Mr. Dale, has a steam yacht which he is not going to use this summer, as he is going to Europe.  I have determined to charter that yacht and go on a cruise among the West Indies.  It will be a fine outing for the summer, even if we don’t locate Treasure Isle, as Mr. Stanhope called the spot.”

“And you’ll take us along?” asked Tom, quickly.

“If you want to go.”

“If we want to go?  Does a duck want to swim, or a dog want to scratch fleas?  Of course we want to go.”

“Such a trip will suit me to a T,” said Sam.  “And I hope with all my heart we locate that treasure,” he added earnestly.

“Of course you’ll take this Bahama Jack along,” said Dick.

“Yes, and I have promised him a big reward if the treasure is recovered,” answered his father.

“Who else will be in the party?”

At this question Anderson Rover’s eyes began to sparkle.

“I was going to keep it a secret, but perhaps I had better tell you.  The steam yacht is a large one and can readily accommodate fifteen or twenty passengers.  I have decided to ask Mrs. Stanhope to go and bring Dora, and will also ask the Lanings.  Then they will know exactly what is being done to recover the treasure.  In addition, if you want to take some of your chums with you, as you did on that houseboat trip.”

“Hurrah, just the thing!” burst out Sam.  “Let us take Fred Garrison by all means.”