“We’ll make an extra bunk for you, Captain Joe,” Clay cut in, eagerly. “You know you’d be welcome.”
“I’m too old, lads,” returned the captain, “and besides. I’ve got my own little bread-and-butter shop to look after. But here,” he continued, taking a packet sealed in oilskin from his breast, “here’s a little present for you. I’m giving it to you with the understanding, though, mind, that you never open it until you find yourself in a tight place! There is a word of advice in it,” he went on, “and it may cheer you up a bit when you open it.”
Clay’s face was very grave as he took the packet. “We’ll do just as you say, Captain Joe,” he promised, “and we’ll think of you as often as you think of us! But we hope never to get into a tight place. You’ll come and see us off?”
“Certainly—certainly!” declared the captain. “I couldn’t let my boys sail away without being there to wish ’em good luck. I’ll have the gasoline down here in an hour, and then off you go, and may every hope you have be thrifty and bud into two more—all coming into harbor with sails set!”
The old man stumped away, and the boys returned to the cabin. While breakfast was being eaten a knock was heard and Frank Porter’s face showed through the glass panel. Alex opened the door and grabbed him by the shoulders.
“Come on in,” he shouted. “You’re just in time for some of my world-without-end pancakes. No one else ever made such pancakes as these. You’re just in time, for we’re going to sail before noon.”
The boys were so happy in their good fortune that all suspicions of the integrity of the lad were for the time forgotten, and he was given a very friendly welcome indeed. He explained that he had been out in the city for a walk, and had been delayed by an accident which had blocked a street and sent him a long way around.
“Now,” said Clay, after breakfast, “I’ll go up to this advertiser’s address and get the reward for the restoration of the diamonds, and then we’ll be all ready for blue water.”
“I’ll go with you,” volunteered Alex.
“Not much you won’t,” Case put in. “You’ll stay here on the boat and wash dishes as a penalty for talking slang.”