"Wal?" repeated Slater, impatiently, shaking his arm loose.
"If ye know'd as much as I do, old feller," answered Pete, in a most impressive manner, "ye wouldn't be standin'' here doin'' nothin'." He laid a finger warningly on his lips. "No yer wouldn't."
"What d'ye mean?" growled the captain, in a husky whisper.
"Jist this!"
Pete drew himself up on tiptoe, spoke earnestly into the lumberman's ear, and watched, with a peculiar grin, the look of amazement which gradually overspread his ruddy face.
"'Tain't—'tain't possible!" murmured Captain Slater, bringing out his red handkerchief again. "D'ye expect me to believe anything like that, ye lubber? Don't ye do no jokin' with me."
"Joke nothin'! An' some o' yer men knows it, too. Jimmy, here—"
Pete suddenly stopped, as Sam Randall turned toward him, while the captain, mopping his forehead furiously, walked toward the group.
"There goes Dave!" cried Bob.
The stout boy was seen clambering upon the deck of the vessel. The others soon joined him. Then the boat began to cut the water again, and, within a few minutes, reached shore.