"No, to be sure we're not. And yet it looks
as though the storm would be a bad one."

"Then I am going to see if my books and
papers are ready, so I can get them together in a
hurry in case we have to take to the life-boats,"
said Professor Bumper, coming on deck at that
moment. "It won't do to lose them. If we
didn't have the map we might not be able to find----"

"Ahem!" exclaimed Tom, with unnecessary
emphasis it seemed. "I'll help you go over your
papers, Professor," he added, and with a wink
and a motion of his hand, he enjoined silence on
his friend. Ned looked around for a reason for
this, and observed a man, evidently of Spanish
extraction, passing them as he paced up and
down the deck.

"What's the matter?" asked the scientist in
a whisper, as the man went on. "Do you know
him? Is he a----?"

"I don't know anything about him," said Tom;
"but it is best not to speak of our trip before
strangers."

"You are right, Tom," said Professor Bumper.
"I'll be more careful."