“What bloody luck!” said the other sick man. “All the pirates’ gold in the world is not worth it!”
“Stow it!” cried the man named Geswick. “You know you weren’t to mention what we were after.”
“Nobody can hear us, in this storm,” replied the first man who had spoken.
“Those boys might hear,” put in the fellow named Pardell.
“Oh, well, they are only boys. Besides, they’d not dare to follow us up to Cave Island——”
“Hush, I tell you!” cried Geswick, savagely. “Do learn to keep your tongue quiet.” And then the men continued to talk in whispers.
Dave had been passing the staterooms of the Englishmen during this conversation and he could not help but hear what was said. When he rejoined his chums he told them of the talk.
“They must be on the hunt after pirates’ gold,” said Phil. “Well, they are not the first to do that kind of searching. Party after party has sailed down here for the same purpose.”
“Yes, and each party has been unsuccessful, so far as I know,” answered Dave.
“Perhaps they have some extra-good clew,” suggested Roger, trying to forget his seasickness.