don't care to be the next, and leave my mainmast sticking up out of the
water to show folks the way to destruction."

"We saw that stump ourselves," said Jack. "Was that wreck long ago, do you
think?"

"Not so many years, twenty, perhaps, or maybe less. The rocks would hold
her tight, but I don't believe there's much left of her. Nothing worth
taking away, I guess."

Jack gave Dick a peculiar look, and neither of the boys told what they had
seen.

The boys had lessons and a lecture that afternoon, and again the next
morning and in the afternoon were free to go about as they pleased,
explore the island or go out on the water with some of the sailors.

"I want to take another look at that old vessel," said Percival to Jack
after dinner. "I have borrowed a stout rope and an axe, and I have my
pocket light with me. Will you go along, Jack? I suppose we should take
J.W. with us, but he is a little fellow, and there might be danger."

"If we find anything whatever we can take him another time," said Jack. "I
don't want anything to happen to the young fellow. Some of the boys may be
saying that I took him to a dangerous place just to have the name of
rescuing him again."

"You don't mind what such fellows as Herring and some of the rest say, I
hope?" sputtered Percival.