But the news don't seem to impress Lieutenant Commander Faulhaber very serious.
"Not really?" says he, chucklin'. "Oh? Then that's the reason for all this mystery? Treasure hunting! Well, well!" And he grins more expansive than ever as he takes another look around.
Next he's introduced proper to everybody, and inside of ten minutes we're all sitting down to breakfast together, while J. Dudley explains how him and Folly has been lifelong chums.
So we didn't get pinched, after all.
"Although," says the lieutenant commander, as he starts back towards the Petrel, "I suppose I ought to fine you for exceeding the speed limit."
The Agnes has got under way again, and we'd stopped wavin' good-by to the jackies, when I catches a glimpse of a head bein' poked cautious out from under the canvas cover of one of our lifeboats. Nudgin' Vee to look, I steps up to Mr. Ellins, who's talkin' with Auntie and Mrs. Mumford, and points out my discovery. By that time the head has been followed by a pair of shoulders.
Old Hickory just narrows his eyes and stares.
"Why!" gasps Mrs. Mumford, "it—it's Captain Killam!"
"Yep!" says I. "Rupert the Reckless. Only this trip he seems to be playin' it safe, eh?"
"In hiding!" says Auntie. "All the time, too!"