His sister had often heard him talk of the wreck and the treasure he thought it contained; but when she heard that Chap had made all the arrangements for blowing the ship out of the water, and that it was to be done that very afternoon, she was indeed astounded.
“Don’t you intend to tell the other boys?” she asked.
“No,” he answered. “They’ll be sure to want to put it off for this thing or that, and might want to wait till we could have tin hoppers made to catch the money in, or something of that kind. I’ve been waiting long enough to do this thing, and I’m not going to hold back another day. But I just felt I couldn’t keep it all to myself, so I told you, for I know you’re the kind of girl who won’t hinder. Now I’m going to take you down with me to see the thing blow up. Would you like that?”
“Oh, yes!” said Helen, her eyes sparkling, “if we don’t have to go too near.”
“We’ll keep out of danger,” said Chap. “But I’m going to do something more for you. I’m going to let you touch her off!”
“Me!” cried Helen. “Oh, Chap! I couldn’t do that!”
“Why, it is nothing to do,” said Chap. “We’ll be far enough away, and you’ve only got to touch a knob. Get your hat and come along. We’re going to have the grandest blow-up ever heard of in these parts.”
A little nervous as to the danger, but wild with excitement as to what was going to happen, Helen ran for her hat, and the two started away, walking across the fields to the place where the battery had been concealed.
On the way, Chap explained to his sister all his arrangements.
“According to what I can make out,” said he, “I’ve got enough giant-powder sunk by the side of that wreck to blow up two ships.”