off.

"Good luck to you, sportsman!" called Frank.

He had a number of things he wanted to do himself, and only cast an
occasional glance out to where Jerry had anchored the dinghy, opposite
to where the motor-boat was tied up.

Will was fussing around, doing something or other. He always made so
much bustle whenever he had anything on hand that his chums frequently
called him an "old woman," but this never seemed to bother the ardent
photographer, who pursued his way in spite of laughter or ridicule.

After a while he came and sat down near where Frank was arranging the
three little single blue-flame stoves that formed the cooking range of
the boat.

"I was just thinking, Frank," said he, "that I've never heard you say a
word about that mysterious packet your father entrusted to you before
we left home."

"Well, I've often thought about it as I felt it in my pocket, but you see
there's nothing to be done until we sight Cedar Keys. Then I'll break the
seal and read further directions," replied Frank.

"Of course you've speculated about it?" went on Will.

"Lots of times, but always arrived at the same old point--that I couldn't
guess in a year what it meant," laughed the other.