"Is that the sailor who told you about the pirate gold?" Bob wanted to know.
"Yes," said his mother, "but——"
"Come on!" cried Bob to Frank. "We can't let Sammy get ahead of us on this. May we go, Mother?"
"Oh, yes, I suppose so," she sighed, with a look at her husband, who smiled and nodded. "We can unpack better if you boys are out of the house, anyhow," she added. "But don't be gone too long."
"Only long enough to find out about the pirate treasure," answered Bob, as he and Frank got out of the carriage to run after Sammy, who was already close to the old sailor.
"Wait—wait for us!" called Bob to his chum, and though Sammy was in a great hurry, he felt that, as he was the guest of Bob, it would be no more than polite to halt until he and Frank came up. Then, together, the three chums approached the old sailor, who was sitting calmly on the overturned boat, smoking a short pipe.
"Good-afternoon," greeted Bob.
"Arternoon!" mumbled the old man. "Are you the Bouncer boys?" he asked, turning to look at the carriage, that was drawing up at Barnacle Cottage.
"I'm one of 'em," answered Bob. "These are my chums."