"I was entangled last time, sir, though I did not tell Adolph when I got up; so maybe, sir, I might have a bit of a life-line round me this time. I don't want to die to-day, sir, anyhow."
A pole had been brought on shore with a British flag, in order that they might hoist it and so take possession of the island in the King of Britain's name.
This pole and flag would do capitally. In less than a minute Kep was back again with another bar of gold, which he placed at the captain's feet.
He was gasping a bit, but soon recovered.
"All is just as I left it, sir," he said.
Then there was a ringing cheer from the men on shore, responded to heartily by those on board.
"We'll hoist the flag-pole now," cried Breezy, and the men quickly drove the halliard through the pulley and set to work to step the mast. In a quarter of an hour all was ready for the ceremony.
But McTavish now boldly stepped forward. "I don't think, sir," he said, "that the flag should be hoisted till the sunken ship is cleared."
"And why, my worthy doctor?"
"Well, sir, so long as this island belongs to Keppel here and Adolph, they can do as they please with it and all in it and round it. But as soon as the Union Jack is hoisted the island becomes the King's--God bless him!--with all its appurtenances; all above ground and all below becomes treasure-trove, flotsam, jetsam, ligan, or whatever other puzzling names a man of law chooses to put on them."