A ROW ON SHIPBOARD

“Do you know, I think we are going on the wildest kind of a goose chase,” said Tom, the next day, to his two brothers.

“Why?” questioned Sam.

“Because we are depending, in large part, on what Bahama Bill has to tell, he’s the worst yarn spinner I ever ran across.”

“It’s true that he is a yam spinner,” said Dick, “but behind it all father says he tells a pretty straight story of how the treasure was stolen and secreted on Treasure Isle.”

“I want to see the island, and the treasure, too, before I’ll believe one quarter of what that sailor says,” replied Tom.

“Well, we’ll soon know the truth of the matter,” came from Sam.  “If this good weather continues we ought to get to where we are going inside of ten days.  Of course, if we are held up by fogs or storms it will take longer.”

The boys, and the girls, too, for the matter of that, were greatly interested in the elegant steam yacht, and they took great pleasure in visiting every part of the vessel from bow to stem.  Captain Barforth did all in his power to make all on board the Rainbow feel at home and whenever the boys visited the engine room they were met with a smile from Frank Norton.

But if they had friends on board there were also some persons they did not like.  The first mate, whose name was Asa Carey, was a silent man who rarely had a pleasant word for anybody.  He hated to have young folks around, and it was a mystery to the Rovers why he should occupy a position on a pleasure craft.

“He ought to be on a freight steamer,” was Dick’s comment—­“some boat where he wouldn’t meet anybody but those working under him.  I can’t understand how the captain can bear him for his first assistant.”

“The owner of the steam yacht hired him,” answered Mr. Rover.  “I believe the captain does not like him any more than we do.  But the mate does his duty faithfully, so the captain cannot find fault.”

Another individual the boys did not like was Bill Bossermann, the assistant engineer.  Bossermann was a burly German, with the blackest of hair and a heavy black beard and beady black eyes.  He had a coarse voice and manners that put one in mind of a bull.  Hans tried to get friendly with him, but soon gave it up.

“He vos von of dem fellers vot knows it all,” explained Hans to his chums.  “He makes some of dem, vot you call him—­bolitical talks, yah.  He dinks eferypotty should be so goot like eferypotty else, und chust so rich, too.”

“Must be an Anarchist,” said Tom.  “He looks the part.”

“Norton told me he was a first-class engineer,” said Dick, “but when I asked him if he was a good fellow he merely shrugged his shoulders in answer.”

One day the first mate was in command, the captain having gone below to study his charts and work out the ship’s position.  Tom had brought a baseball to the deck and was having a catch with Sam.  The boys enjoyed the fun for quite a while and did not notice the mate near them.