The Boy Chums in the Gulf of Mexico / or, On a Dangerous Cruise with the Greek Spongers

nothing unpleasant had ever passed between them. The lads met his smiling

d sailor to one side. "We don't want anything to do with that man," he declared,

with us now an' if I try to get rid of him he can make a lot of trouble for us. We have got to ta

howed his anxie

. "Maybe it will all work out for the best. He won't be able to abuse the lad on the schooner, an' I don't see how he can

"I am going to keep a mighty close watch on him all the time, though. We will talk more

nce, Walter told his chum

clared, "but if it has got to be, we had better start in by trea

e began to treat the Greek pleasantly, i

ed with the appearance of the men. They were well-built, husky fellows and looked to be capable sailors. They were much alike in looks, all being broad-shouldered and swarthy with clean-cut features and straight noses. One alone seemed to differ greatly from the rest. He was a tall, powerful, handsome fellow

y articles that he did not carry in stock which they had to buy at the Greek stores. Manuel directed them as to the kind of food their crew were accustomed to. The bulk of the stores consisted of ripe black olives in

he last bill, "we have only got five

have a couple of thousand dollars anyway coming to us

their valises and belongings which they

had the meat cut up and sizzling

ing boat towing along behind, they dropped the schooner down the river to the mouth and anchored for the night

e four chums sat on deck admiring the beauty of the scene around them. A thousand lights twinkled from the fleet

prettiest sight you ever saw," he said. The lads hustled into their clothing and followed hi

hapely hulls. Some lay with sails slatting, still clinging to their anchorage while their brightly attired crews worked over windlasses, reeling in the dripping cables. Some already under way lay hove-

eath of pure delight at

nd," Char

place like the sea for beautiful scenes. But thar ain't a ship

ang to the windlass, while others stood by the halyards, ready to hoist the big jibs the second the an

windlass shou

ke," transl

ed the captain, "g

layed off, and, careening over 'till her lee rail touched

foam sweep past in t

e's fast,"

ter, except maybe Black Sam's schooner. We'll have to shorten sail

as the Beauty overhauled and p

el with three diving boats in tow, a man on

ou. Better keep

claimed. "I am glad that we are g

who was standing near. "But here is my lit

ed him below. "I could never remember that," he said, when the lad replied w

efore the steaming cups of coffee and waited impatiently for the food to be brou

bring the breakfast,

there," the

ted his order but Be

ain remarked, "Go up and tell your fathe

in a minute with

e captain explained, "the b

does not comprehend. It is the custom to have

for breakfast?" ro

e crew ate the divers would want to eat also, and that would be fatal for them. The st

are meals a day," said the hungry sailor. "Right sav

said with a smile. "I will speak to the cook at o

l justice. As soon as it was finished, they returned to the deck where they learned tha

and most intelligent-looking for an engineer. The four divers were, of course, allotted to their boat, but besides them they had to have two men to work the air pump and two othe

ace. They brought out their diving suits and went over them inch by inch for possible rents or tears. Many of the suits were old and covered with a multitude of rubber patches. The boys were amazed t