"Wait—wait for us!" called Bob to his chum, and though Sammy was in a great hurry, he felt that, as he was the guest of Bob, it would be no more than polite to halt until he and Frank came up. Then, together, the three chums approached the old sailor, who was sitting calmly on the overturned boat, smoking a short pipe.
"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.
