“Well, I’ll be blowed!” he exclaimed. “Who do you suppose it is, fellows?”
“Not that old thieving pirate?” cried Hal.
“That’s what! Honest Bill Glass!”
Hal bristled up immediately. “The old robber! Wait till I talk to him!”
“Don’t do it!” begged Bee in alarm. “Don’t get him mad, Hal, or he may turn back and leave us here. Wait until we get on shore. After that I don’t care what you say to him.”
“That’s good advice, Hal,” said Jack, with a smile. “Better not get him peevish, I guess. Let’s go down there and talk to him.”
Honest Bill Glass rowed his dory up to the side of the Corsair and looked her over. Then he turned to the boys on the edge of the rocks.
“Mornin’, shipmates!” he boomed across. “Changed your camp, I see. I never heard tell, though, of any treasure on Hog Island.”
“Our gasoline gave out yesterday afternoon,” replied Jack, “and the best we could do was make this island. We’ve been signalling ever since we got here and you’re the first to see us. Have you got any water aboard?”
“Not a drop,” replied the man. “Thirsty, be ye?”