But Jay was insistent. Nothing would deter him, he said. He would swim. It was the logical thing to do. If the ship were a pirate craft they could take measures at once to capture her or wireless for help.
"But you would be running quite a risk," offered the captain.
"Nonsense," rattled off Jay. "That would be just a lark, and I am more than able to take care of myself."
In the end the leader of the salvage crew surrendered to his determined diver. It was agreed they would wait until ten o'clock when all was quiet and that no word should be spread among the crew of the Jules Verne. So while Captain Austin went off to inspect the ship, and in particular the guard whom he had posted, Jay repaired to his stateroom and stretched out for a little rest. Dick was with him and Fismes snoozed near the open door.
"How many men do you suppose they have on board over there?" queried Dick, pointing in the direction of the unknown vessel.
"Goodness only knows; they may have a dozen or fifty," said Jay. "She looks like a pretty big boat as near as you can size her up in the dark. If they came out here after any of that gold you can make up your mind they are well equipped to take care of themselves. They have enough men to put up a good fight and quite likely are as well armed if not better than we are."
"What makes you think they are here after the Dominion's gold? I thought only a few people knew where the liner went down, let alone that she carried such wealth," pondered Dick.
"True enough," said Jay. "Not many people do know where she is. But they could find out. You remember that we were out here once before on the Dominion. Possibly some member of the crew of the Nemo has spread the news."
Ten o'clock found Jay ready for the venture. He had divested himself of all his outer clothing and had resolved to make the trip dressed only in a bathing suit. The night was warm and the water just the temperature for a cool swim. The youth went unarmed.
"Just going out to reconnoiter a little bit," he had said. Jay's plan was to get aboard the strange craft in some way, look her over and report back his observations. What they would be he had not the slightest idea. His sole intent was to learn something about the unfriendly ship that had refused to divulge its identity and to bring back this information to the Jules Verne. He resolved to go unarmed, deciding not even to carry a dirk in his belt, although Dick had suggested that for the sake of self-protection in a possible surprise attack.