“Why do you think he did it, sir,” I enquired musingly. “It’s just one of two things,” replied Mr. Perkins. “Either the man’s a bit cracked, as I’ve sometimes suspected, and really feels sentimental about his brother’s death, or else he’s got a sly scheme to make trips to the island in an old ship that won’t attract attention, and bring away many cargoes of gold. That ain’t so unlikely, Sam. No one will remark on Cap’n Gay’s owning the old ship he’s commanded for years; but if he bought a new one, and started out for the island, he might be watched and his true business suspected. Either the feller’s mighty deep, or mighty innocent; but it ain’t our business to decide which. We’ve got the money, and now we’ll look for a newer and finer ship.” “New England’s the best place to buy a good ship, sir. I’ve often heard my father say so,” I suggested. “Then let’s go to New England,” returned Uncle Naboth, promptly. “We’ll travel together, and you can run up to Batteraft and pay the old hag that money.” “I’d like to do that,” said I, greatly pleased. “It would do me good to see her surprise when she finds I’ve earned so much money already.” “Then it’s all settled,” declared Uncle Naboth. “I’ll go up to the village with you, and see fair play. ’Twould be a fine chance to give that cankered Venus a piece of my mind, just as a parting shot.” “Would you dare, sir,” I asked, recollecting his former experience with Mrs. Ranck. “Would I dare? Do you take me for a coward, then?” demanded the old man, indignantly. “No, sir, but I remember——” “Never mind that, Sam. I was worried about other things that day, and wasn’t quite myself. But _now_—well, just wait till I get the old serpent face to face. That’s all!” “All right, Uncle. When shall we go?” “Just as soon as we’ve paid all the bills and settled our accounts for the last voyage. A week’ll do that, I reckon. An’ now, partner, just run out and hire a closed carriage, and we’ll get Cap’n Gay’s gold to the bank as soon as possible. Sam, my boy, if this streak o’ luck holds good we’ll be the envy of Rockyfeller in a few years!” CHAPTER XVIII. UNCLE NABOTH’S REVENGE. Ten days later, having paid all our indebtedness and converted every ounce of our gold into ready money that was deposited to the credit of “Perkins & Steele,” at the bank, we started on what Uncle Naboth called our “voyage” across the continent. We had both taken a strong liking for Ned Britton, who has stood by us so faithfully at the island; so Mr. Perkins decided to make Ned the mate of the new ship, when she had been purchased. For this reason, and because the sailor wished to revisit some of his relatives in the East and make them happy by sharing with them his prize money, Ned also traveled on the same train with us. “Britton’s judgment will be useful in helping us to pick out a ship,” said the old man. “I’m glad he’s going with us.”