"Yes, my lad," answered Captain Broadbeam. "I reckon it will be nip an' tuck between ye!" And he shook his head doubtfully.

There was a pause in the talk.

"Have you a castaway on board?" questioned Lemuel Hankers, at length.

"No, but we've got a prisoner named Pete Rackley," answered Captain Broadbeam, with, a chuckle.

"A prisoner!"

"Exactly—and you know what for, Lemuel Hankers, you old fraud!" said Dave.

"I? I know nothing."

"You know everything. Your well-laid plot failed to work, and Pete Rackley shall remain a prisoner until we can hand him over to the United States authorities."

A wordy quarrel followed, and presently the two rival divers came forward.

"We are going down to-morrow," said Vixen, the leader of the pair. "If you go down, mind and keep your distance."