"Good-afternoon," greeted Bob.

"Arternoon!" mumbled the old man. "Are you the Bouncer boys?" he asked, turning to look at the carriage, that was drawing up at Barnacle Cottage.

"I'm one of 'em," answered Bob. "These are my chums."

"Hum! I thought your mother said, when she come down to rent that cottage, that she had three boys."

"Oh, she says that because we're always together," explained Frank. "My mother says the same thing."

"Hum!" mused the old sailor. "Well, I'm glad to see you. I likes young people—'specially boys. They make a place a bit lively, and it's dull enough here all Winter. In Summer the cottagers come, and then it ain't so bad. I used to be a sailor but now I fish and rent boats," he went on, "and if you're going to hire one for the season I'll let you have a good one."

"Oh, we'll be sure to want a boat," Bob said, "but I guess my father will pick it out."

Sammy, by nods and winks, had been trying to signal to Bob to ask some questions about the treasure, and Bob, knowing that Sammy was anxious to hear what there was in the story, said:

"My friend here, Sammy Brown, wants to ask you some questions, Mr. Salina."

"Fire away!" invited the old fisherman. "I've got a little time yet 'fore I go treading for clams. What is it?"

"About the pirate treasure!" exclaimed Sammy, eagerly.[Pg 25] "Mrs. Bouncer said you told her about it. Where is it—we'd like to dig for it!"

[Pg 25]

The old man did not answer for a few seconds. He was too busily engaged in chuckling silently. He chuckled so hard that he took a wrong breath on his pipe, some smoke went down his throat, and he coughed and spluttered so wildly that the boys thought he was having a fit. But finally he regained control of his breathing, though he was rather red in the face, and there were tears in his eyes.

"Excuse me," he said. "Excuse me, boys. I didn't mean to be impolite, but I'm sorry you took so much stock in that pirate treasure yarn."

"Isn't there any?" asked Sammy, in disappointed tones.

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