“We haven’t the time to hunt for that class of people. Just now we need money to pay for what it is necessary to purchase, and unless we go ashore pretty soon it will be too late to do anything until to-morrow.”
“It is believed there is a great deal of piratical gold hidden on the keys near here,” the interpreter said as he gave back the coin.
“But that can’t be any of it,” Vance replied quickly, “for——”
Roy prevented anything more being said by stepping on his friend’s foot at that instant, and this time Ned fancied he saw an odd expression come over the man’s face.
He said nothing, however, but went toward the rail as if ready to embark, and in a few moments the three were pulling rapidly toward the nearest pier.
“We shan’t be gone more than an hour,” Roy cried as they left the yacht, “and when we come back the boat shall be half-loaded with fruit. This is a good place in which to buy such things.”
“Take your time. I’m all right here, an’ will see to it that nobody comes on board while you are away.”
Ned watched until the little boat touched the dock, and then muttered to himself as he examined the hawsers to make certain they were holding:
“I’ll own up to bein’ a Dutchman if that fellow don’t try to find out more about the gold before we lose sight of him. I didn’t like his face for a cent. He is one of that kind of fellows who wouldn’t hesitate about putting a knife into a man’s back, an’ I think will bear watching.”
After ascertaining that everything on deck was in proper order, Ned went into the wheel-house to watch for the return of his friends, and when they had been absent about an hour his attention was drawn to a small boat, containing two men, which was being rowed around and around the yacht as if to make a general inspection.