"The villains!" burst in Luke. "Those chaps ought to be swung up to a yardarm!"
The captain listened to Larry's story and then was prompted to take a look around the other staterooms. As a result he speedily discovered that the safe had been tampered with and that his own money was gone.
"They are worse rascals than I thought them," said Captain Ponsberry, bitterly. "I am sorry that I did not make an example of them from the start."
There was a good deal of speculation concerning what had become of Shamhaven and Peterson, and another search was instituted, lasting until the following day, but not a single trace of the evildoers could be found.
"Well, I am out the whole of my savings," said Larry to Luke.
"It's a shame, lad," replied the Yankee tar. "But if you need ready cash don't fail to draw on me. As long as I have a shot in the locker half on it is yours."
"Thank you, Luke; I know you'd say that. You're the proper kind of a friend to have."
"Avast, Larry, with your compliments. Wouldn't you do the same fer me?"
"Indeed I would!"
"Then it ain't worth talkin' about. Jest the same, I hope we run into them rascals some day; don't you?"