“What’s the matter?” they cried in alarm, leaping to their feet.
Teddy tried to speak, but for a moment no words came.
“The m-m-map!” he stuttered at last. “It’s in the f-forecastle!”
224“The map?” repeated Bill blankly.
A light sprang into Fred’s eyes.
“Do you mean the map that the sailor carved?” he demanded, clutching his brother’s arm with a force like a vise.
Teddy nodded, still a prey to his tremendous agitation.
“But how can it be?” asked Fred wildly. “This isn’t the Ranger.”
“How do you know it isn’t?” cried Bill, catching the contagion. “Her name was changed, you remember.”
“What are you fellows chinning about up there?” demanded Lester, with a touch of impatience in his voice.