"Then we'll be fixed to go right ahead," said Mr. Fearless. "But we must get ahead of Lemuel Hankers and his son."
"Trust me to do that, Fearless. But when it comes to going down to a wreck as lies two miles under the surface o' the ocean, why, you and Dave will have to do that part o' the job."
"And we will," put in Dave, quickly. "I know it is a gigantic undertaking, but with; the proper outfits, I feel convinced that we will get there sure!" and he shook his head confidently.
In secret Amos Fearless promised Captain Broadbeam twenty-five per cent. of any sum recovered from the wreck, providing the government would allow the officer to accept the amount.
It was not until late that night that the party separated and Dave and his father retired to a room in another part of the hotel.
When they left Captain Broadbeam, a man in a room next to the captain's got up from his knees, for he had been down listening at the keyhole of a door which connected the two apartments.
This fellow was named Pete Rackley, and he was in Lemuel Hankers' employ.
"I'm onto their game right enough," muttered Rackley to himself. "So they are going to outwit my boss? Well, I reckon not."
Before going to bed that night, Pete Rackley wrote a long letter to Lemuel Hankers, telling the rich man of what he had heard.
He felt that he must keep Dave and his father from going West to join the Swallow, no matter what the cost.