“You see, I’ve got some partic’lar business down that way,” said Ben, with a portentous wink at Harry; “ain’t I, Harry?”
The boy addressed instantly guessed that Ben referred to the supposed treasure trove lying at the bottom of the Black Bayou. Now, in the rush of events following Harry’s return from his strange cruise on the Betsy Jane, he had quite forgotten about Raoul Duval’s map. But now it flashed back on him, and the recollection caused him to flush with excitement.
Dr. Perkins looked puzzled, while a glance of intelligence shot between the grizzled old adventurer and the boy.
“Have I got your leave to tell about the sunken steamer?” inquired Harry.
“Sure. Heave ahead, my boy,” was the hearty answer; “I was never much of a hand at spinning a yarn.”
“Pirates and petticoats! What’s all this about a yarn and a sunken ship?” demanded Pudge.
“Sounds like some fresh adventure. Anything like the Buena Ventura cruise?” asked Billy Barnes, referring, of course, to their experiences in the Sargasso Sea.
“I hope not,” laughed Harry. “No, this is a much tamer affair,” he continued. “Ben, here, thinks that he knows of a craft sunk in a bayou off the Mississippi, on board of which is a small fortune in gold dust and black pearls.”
“Gold dust and black pearls!” cried Billy Barnes. “Wow! that sounds like a regular story.”
“Suppose we let Harry heave ahead, as Ben calls it, and tell us what all this is about,” suggested Frank quietly. But his eyes were shining. He knew that what Harry was about to communicate must be of deep interest from the manner in which the boy had spoken.