"And when we do come back, we'll have enough doubloons with us to buy up the whole city," joked Drew.
"Don't be too sure of that," smiled Ruth. "Those who go out to shear sometimes come back shorn."
"We simply can't fail," asserted Drew. "Especially as we're taking a mascot along with us."
"The mascot may prove to be a hoodoo," laughed Ruth. "I've thought more than once that I shouldn't have teased my father to take me along."
"He'd have robbed the whole trip of brightness if he had refused," affirmed Parmalee.
"It's nice of you to say that," returned Ruth. "But if any serious trouble should come up, fighting or anything of that kind, you might find me terribly in the way."
"We'd only have an additional reason to fight the harder," declared Drew. "No harm should come to you while any of us were left alive. But really, there's nothing to worry about. This trip is going to be a summer excursion."
"Nothing more serious to fear than the ghosts of some of the old pirates who may be keeping guard over their doubloons and may resent our intrusion," said Parmalee.
"I'm not afraid of ghosts," cried Ruth. "It's only creatures of flesh and blood that give me any worry."
"If anything should come up," said Drew, "we're in pretty good shape to give the mischief-makers a tussle. Your father has a good collection of weapons down in the cabin."