father," broke in Oliver. "Do you suppose we want them to locate the Cave of Pearls and run off with the precious things? Not much! We won't even tell this Joe Koloa what we are up to until we feel certain he is thoroughly trustworthy."
"I place but little confidence in this story of a hidden treasure worth fifty thousand dollars," said my father, who sat by, smoking a favorite Havana cigar. "I am inclined to think that this Gaston Brown's head was just a bit turned. His mode of living showed that he was eccentric."
"Well, the boys want to see the volcano anyway, Carter," said Mr. Raymond, "so let them go."
"Oh, I am willing—but they must take good care of themselves." My father turned to me. "When do you want to start?"
"I'll leave that to Oliver," I answered. "He is the head of this expedition."
"The regular steamer for Honolulu sails day after to-morrow," said Oliver. "We might rather take that than to wait—if we can get staterooms. I understand the travel to the Hawaiian Islands since they have been annexed to the United States has been very heavy."
"We might make the trip in a sailboat," suggested Dan, but with a twinkle in his eye which showed that he did not mean what he said.
"Yes, and be wrecked again, as we were on
