“Three of us,” replied Dave. “And all mighty glad to see you.” “What is it? A picnic party? Well, I’m hanged!” said the voice, the owner of which jumped out of the boat. He was a big, broad-shouldered man, with a pleasant ring in his voice. “Much obliged to you for calling,” said Tempest. “Hope we haven’t inconvenienced you.” “It’s a wonder we’re here at all,” said the big man. “I saw your beacon as I was going below. Marooned?” “Our ship had a bit of an argument with a rock out there,” said Tempest, “and the rock won. We’d be glad of a passage out of this. You in a hurry? There’s lots of stores worth taking.” “Stores, eh?” said the big man, who proved to be the mate. “Guess I’d better see the skipper about that. It’ll be daylight in a few hours. You come off and see him.” A dozen faces peered curiously over the side of the steamer as they approached it. “Bless my soul!” said the skipper, when Dave and his companions stepped aboard. “What have we got here?” Tempest explained briefly, thanked the captain for stopping, and mentioned the stores. “Why, yes, I’ll be glad to have them,” said the skipper. “We’re not over provisioned. Those natives at Fiji wanted too much for their things for my liking, so I only took enough to last till we hit ’Frisco.” As soon as it was light the captain himself went off and inspected the mass of stuff that had been landed from the _Manihiki_. “Jer-usalem!” he said, “but this lot is worth a young fortune. Who’s the real owner of it?” “You’ll have to fight that out with the owners of the _Manihiki_,” said Tempest. “May I ask if you’re calling anywhere on the way to San Francisco?” “A few places in Samoa, then Washington Island and Honolulu,” replied the skipper. Tempest smiled. “That’s funny,” he said. “I was going to ask you to oblige us with a passage at the expense of the _Manihiki’s_ owners, but since you’re bound for Washington Island I think it would be much better if you could sign us on as members of your crew till we get there.” “Why, certainly. I can do that,” said the skipper. “What’s the idea?” “Nothing much,” Tempest observed, “except that we might have a little――er――business not so far from Washington Island; and though we’re not stuck for funds, a bit of extra cash might come in very handy when we get there.” The captain displayed no further curiosity in the matter. He had knocked about the South Seas too long to be surprised by the mysterious movements of men there. He turned his attention to hustling out to the ship all the miscellaneous articles which had to be got aboard and checked; and long before midday his vessel was again heading for the northeast. “Do you know where we are going to get off this packet, Dave?” Tempest asked as soon as they got the opportunity for a quiet chat. “Not exactly,” the boy replied. “I heard you saying something about Washington Island, but I never heard of it. What is the scheme?”