“No luck that time, lads,” the skipper went on to say, as soon as they detached the big heavy helmet that had been securely fastened to its base, resting on his shoulders. “I scoured every part of the old hulk I could reach, but it seems that in all these years the bars have been knocked about, and perhaps many of them are buried deep under the sand if they ever got outside the shell of the wreck.”
Now was Oscar’s chance to mention what he had on his mind.
“I’d like to take a turn down below, Captain, if you don’t object,” he said.
The skipper looked at him quizzically.
“I’d be only too glad of the chance for a new recruit, if only you knew the ropes, lad,” he observed seriously. “Both of my men are tired out, and need a spell of rest. It’s no child’s play to stay down there an hour at hard work.”
“But I have been down in a diver’s suit before,” protested Oscar.
“You don’t tell me!” ejaculated Captain Shooks; “well, it’d be hard to run across any sort of game you boys haven’t tried. Where did it happen, lad?”
Oscar explained in as few words as possible.
“So you see I know a little about the business,” he continued, believing he had made some sort of an impression on the commander. “I would promise to be very careful, and not take any unnecessary risks. So say yes, Captain. There is just time between now and sunset for a little look around, and I want to see what the inside of the old Spanish galleon is like.”
Captain Shooks smiled as though a pleasant thought had flashed through his mind. These Motion Picture Comrades had a great record for being lucky. Many things they had told him connected with their previous exploits pointed to that as a positive fact. Hence, it might be a wise thing for him to let one of them take a hand in searching the old wreck. If that little cherub aloft that seemed to be guarding their fortunes continued on the job, possibly something fine might come out of the “little look-in” Oscar declared he wanted.