"Both engaged at salary mentioned in letter. Report here without delay." "Hurrah! We're in it after all!" shouted Dave, flinging up his cap, and he danced a jig for joy. "Now for the Pacific Ocean and the missing fortune!" Father and son had prepared everything for a start from home, and that evening saw them on the way to Washington. They spent the night in New York, and reported at the Capital City at noon the next day. "Glad to see you," said Captain Broadbeam, shaking both by the hand. "Come over to my hotel and we'll talk matters over." He was a round-faced, jolly old sea-dog, and nobody could help liking him. At the hotel the captain was let into the secret of the sunken treasure, in which he immediately took a deep interest. When Lemuel Hankers was mentioned he scowled. "He is my enemy," he said. "He tried to get me out of my position so that some captain friend of his could have the berth. I'd be glad to knock the wind out o' his sails, consarn him!" "Where is the _Swallow_ now?" "At San Francisco, all ready to sail." "And when shall we go West?" "Day after to-morrow, and you can go along with me." A long talk followed, during which Amos Fearless asked about a diving bell. "Yes, we have the very latest pattern on board of the _Swallow_," answered Captain Broadbeam, "and we shall also take along the very best of diving outfits, deep-sea sounders, and drag-nets--better even than those on the _Albatross_." "Then we'll be fixed to go right ahead," said Mr. Fearless. "But we must get ahead of Lemuel Hankers and his son." "Trust me to do that, Fearless. But when it comes to going down to a wreck as lies two miles under the surface o' the ocean, why, you and Dave will have to do that part o' the job." "And we will," put in Dave, quickly. "I know it is a gigantic undertaking, but with the proper outfits, I feel convinced that we will get there sure!" and he shook his head confidently. In secret Amos Fearless promised Captain Broadbeam twenty-five per cent. of any sum recovered from the wreck, providing the government would allow the officer to accept the amount. It was not until late that night that the party separated and Dave and his father retired to a room in another part of the hotel. When they left Captain Broadbeam, a man in a room next to the captain's got up from his knees, for he had been down listening at the keyhole of a door which connected the two apartments. This fellow was named Pete Rackley, and he was in Lemuel Hankers' employ. "I'm onto their game right enough," muttered Rackley to himself. "So they are going to outwit my boss? Well, I reckon not." Before going to bed that night, Pete Rackley wrote a long letter to Lemuel Hankers, telling the rich man of what he had heard. He felt that he must keep Dave and his father from going West to join the _Swallow_, no matter what the cost. So he at once laid a plan to have Dave arrested for supposed pocket-picking.