Dave Porter on Cave Island: or, A Schoolboy's Mysterious Mission

“Billy Dill!” exclaimed our hero, as his face lit up with pleasure. “Where in the world did you drop from? I thought you had given up the sea.”

Billy Dill, as my old readers will remember, was the tar who aided Dave in locating his Uncle Dunston. As related in “Dave Porter in the South Seas,” Billy Dill had traveled with our hero to that portion of the globe, in the Stormy Petrel, of which Bob Sanders was, at the time, second mate. On returning home, the old tar had been placed in a sanitarium and then a sailors’ home, and Dave had imagined he was still in the latter retreat.

“Couldn’t give up the sea, Dave,” replied the old sailor. “I tried my best, but it wasn’t no use. So I goes to Phil’s old man, an’ I says, says I, ‘Give me a berth an’ anything I’m wuth,’ an’ he says, says he, ‘How would ye like to sail with Cap’n Sanders, wot sailed with you to the South Seas?’ ‘Fust-rate,’ says I; an’ here I be, an’ likes it very much.”

“Well, I’m glad to see you looking so well,” answered Dave.

“It’s the sea air done it, lad. When I was ashore I jest knowed I wanted sea air. No more homes ashore fer Billy Dill, not much!” And the old tar shook his head with conviction.

A few minutes later, while the old sailor was shaking hands with the others, and asking and answering questions, the captain of the ship came up.

“Very glad indeed to see you again,” said Captain Sanders, with a broad smile. He looked closely at the boys. “Grown some since I saw you last.”

“And you have advanced, too,” answered Dave, with a grin. “Let me congratulate you on becoming a captain, Mr. Sanders.”

“It’s all through the kindness of Mr. Lawrence and Captain Marshall. If it wasn’t for them, I shouldn’t be in this berth.”

“How is Captain Marshall?” asked our hero. The man mentioned was the commander of the ship in which Dave had sailed to the South Seas.

“First-rate, the last I heard of him. He sailed from San Francisco to Manila ten days ago.”

“Captain Sanders, what port are you bound for next?” questioned Phil, after greetings had been exchanged all around and a number of other questions had been asked.

“No port as yet, Phil. I’m waiting for orders.”

“Have you any idea where you may go to?”

“Something was said about a cargo for Porto Rico. But nothing was settled. I’ll know in a couple of days, I think.”

“Do any of our ships ever sail to Barbados?”

“Not very often. I could have had a cargo for that port from here, but the firm didn’t take it, and it went to the Emma Brower.”

“The very ship we are after!” murmured Dave.

“Could you get another cargo for Barbados, do you think?”

“I don’t know – maybe. Why?”

“We want to go there!”

“You do! That isn’t much of a place.”

“But we have a reason for wanting to go,” went on Phil. And then, knowing he could trust Captain Sanders, he told the story of the stolen gems and the search for Merwell and Jasniff.

“Humph! that’s a queer yarn,” mused the captain of the Golden Eagle. “Supposing I got a cargo for that port – you’d go along?”

“I would,” answered the shipowner’s son, promptly. “That is, if dad would let me – and I’m sure he would.”

“So would I go,” added Dave.

“I’d have to go – to look after the others,” said Dunston Porter, with a smile.

“Well, you can’t leave me in the cold,” came from Roger. “If the rest went, I’d go too.”

“Come down to the cabin and talk it over,” said Captain Sanders, and led the way across the deck and down the companionway.

Once below they were invited to remain to supper and did so. While at the meal the boys and Dunston Porter told all they knew concerning the case against Merwell and Jasniff, and the captain told what he knew about the Emma Brower and her commander.

“I am going to telegraph to my father about this,” said Phil, a little later. “If this vessel can get a cargo for Barbados she might as well sail for that port as anywhere.”

“Well, I’m willing,” answered Captain Sanders. “When will you send word to him?”

“Right away – I’ll send him a telegram at once.”

“I hope it turns out all right,” said Dave. “I feel it is my duty to get after Merwell and Jasniff, and do it as soon as possible.”

CHAPTER XVIII – OFF FOR BARBADOS

The next three days were busy ones for the boys and Dunston Porter. Telegrams were sent back and forth between Phil and his father, and also between Dave and Mr. Wadsworth.

“Here is news!” cried our hero, after receiving one of the messages. “Just listen to this.” And he read the following, from the jewelry manufacturer:

“Clew in Boston proved to be false, also clew in New York. Hope you are on the right track and get gems. Spare no expense if you feel you are right.”

“And here is a telegram from my dad,” said Phil. “He tells us – Captain Sanders and myself – to use our own judgment.”

“Can you get a cargo for Barbados, Phil?” asked Roger.

“We can get a half-cargo.”

“At once?”

“Yes, that is, inside of two days.”

“Then by all means take it, Phil!” cried Dave. “I know Mr. Wadsworth will stand the extra expense. And if he won’t, I know my father will.”

“Where is your Uncle Dunston?” questioned the shipowner’s son.

“He’s out on a little business trip. He got a telegram from New York that upset him somewhat. I hope it isn’t anything serious,” added Dave, soberly.

The boys rushed off to talk the matter over with Captain Sanders. They found the master of the vessel at the shipping office, talking over the matter of a cargo for Barbados.

“Four men want to take passage with us, if we go,” said the captain. “That will help pay for the trip, since they are willing to pay good passage money.”

“We want you to take that half-cargo,” said Phil, and explained matters.

“All right, if you say so,” answered Captain Sanders. “But you had better speak to Mr. Porter about it first.”