"You get aboard the Bertha B," shouted Captain Bagley, "or I'll heave you overboard again."
"We've got to get him out of this cold air," said the shipper, for in a few minutes Hawley began to breathe. "Let's take him into the cabin of this boat."
The watchman led the way with his lantern, while the two captains carried the bulky form of the sailor down the companionway.
"Get his clothes off," said Captain Rumford.
Captain Bagley began to strip off the wet garments. Somehow Hawley's pocket-knife had worked up above his belt, taking the trousers' pocket with it. Captain Bagley could not loosen the belt buckle. He drew his own knife and started to cut off the offending pocket. The sailor's knife came tumbling out. After it slipped a tiny roll of round, green paper with a rubber band about it. For an instant Captain Bagley seemed paralyzed. Then he grabbed the roll and tore off the band. A number of wet greenbacks unrolled under his trembling fingers. Inside of them was another roll of bills, also fastened with a rubber band. Inside of all was a check. The ink on it had run, but the captain was still able to read the name on the check. The check was payable to Captain Christopher Bagley.
CHAPTER XI A WIRELESS TELEPHONE
For a moment the oyster skipper was like one struck dumb. Then his usual explosive nature asserted itself.