The colored man said no more, but rowed inshore, and in the meantime the doctor hurried down to meet him.
"Did you find any gold, massah?" asked the colored man, his white teeth gleaming.
"Gold! Why, you foolish nigger, what chance is there of finding gold on a wreck over ten years old? The best thing you can do is to break the boat to pieces and take the wood ashore for fuel."
"But de ghosteses, massah! Besides, Mrs. Ruthven wouldn't let us touch dat wrack nohow."
"On account of the boy, I suppose."
"Yes, massah."
"To tell the truth, my man, I have now as much interest in that ship as has that boy or Mrs. Ruthven. It brings back an exciting passage in my life. My visit to the wreck was made to satisfy me concerning several important questions. I was one of the passengers on that ill-fated ship!"
"Golly, massah, yo' don't really mean dat?" And Old Ben's eyes opened widely.
"Yes, I do. I suspected it before; now I am dead certain of it."
At this declaration Old Ben grew quite excited.