Without demur, the case of crackers was brought inboard and then Fred called out: “There’s a little box floating away from us—‘precious goods come in small packages,’ you know, so we ought to get that!”
“Another feller’s after it—quick—hurry up!” cried Paul.
The pirates on the Zeus won the race and the small half-submerged box was carefully lifted aboard.
“Now, I insist that we start home!” declared Captain Ed.
“Even as it is we won’t get there until after dark!” added Benton.
“Never mind, we’ve done a big day’s work!” chuckled Fred.
“I should say so! Gee! pigs, crackers, and whatnot!” added Billy, gloatingly.
“Ed, I bet those vultures won’t leave a stick on that boat—why, every little shack down the bay will have one of them red-plush chairs from the saloon, and every one on Metinicus will be sleepin’ on good mattresses—after they’re dried out,” grumbled Benton.
On the way home the boys investigated their treasure trove. The small box that had caused such a lively race was found to contain a gross of Ingersol watches. But most of them were utterly spoiled from the salt-water bath. The better ones, packed individually in small close-fitting cases, proved to be in fairly good condition.
Oh, what joy to the hearts of these mariners! To hear the ticking of a watch on every passenger of the Zeus—a watch that might be consulted as often as one liked without regard to the others!