tramp vessel who was ready to go on a hunt for the treasure. And he was still more worried when Dick told him of the letters which had been abstracted from his coat pocket by the thieves. Among them was one from Mrs. Stanhope mentioning the treasure hunt and how she would be on hand at Philadelphia to board the steam yacht with Dora and the Lanings.
"If Cuffer and Shelley turn that letter over to Merrick it will give him some idea of our proposed trip," said Mr. Rover, "and more than likely he will strain every nerve to get ahead of us."
"His vessel may not be able to sail as fast as our steam yacht," said Tom.
"That is true, Tom, but he may get down among the West Indies before we can locate Treasure Isle and then he'll have as good a chance as ourselves. Moreover, if he should land on the isle at the time we did"
"There'd be a hot time, that's sure," said the fun-loving boy, with a grin.
"Do you think they'd fight?" asked Sam.
"Yes, if they saw a chance of getting the best of us," answered his father.
"I wish I had caught Tad Sobber," came from Tom, regretfully.
"That might have done some good, but I
