"I guess so," said Pickering. "They thought they'd made a good find this time. That valise'd ha' been a fortune to 'em, chronometers and all. Glad you struck it."
"Sam hooked it," said Pete, "but it was Captain Kroom pulled it in. Sam thought he had the biggest kind of fish."
"Hullo, Captain!" came from the other boat. "Have ye had any luck?"
"Not any," responded Kroom. "But I want to get inside before it's calm."
"That there wreck out there's a Britisher," said the boatman. "They'll get her off. We haven't struck a fish to-day. We're goin' on in."
They were only out there fishing, all innocent, therefore, but they let the Elephant keep away a little, or they kept away from her.
"Wonder what they've picked up?" muttered Pickering.
"Look back," replied Kroom. "Don't you see something?"
"I do!" whispered Sam to Pete. "It's something white—"
"Right in the wake of their boat," said Kroom. "They must ha' let go of it just as we came out of the channel."