Frontier Boys in the South Seas Part 11

"Very good," said the professor. "Keep it up, for we may want to start any minute. Keep your eyes on the Sea Eagle, captain, and let us know if she shows signs of getting under way."

"Ay, ay, sir!" responded the captain.

"Feel any better now, Jo?" asked the professor, with a smile, "it is pretty near time to eat again."

"I'm all right again now, professor," responded Jo.

"Better get ready then, for I hear Pedro rattling the dishes down there."

"I think"--began Tom, when they were down in their staterooms taking a washup before the noon meal.

"That it is time for dinner," interrupted Jo.

"No, sonny," replied Tom. "My thoughts are not as your thoughts, always on the gross material, but--" Going to the door, he called Jim into the room. Then, after a look into the saloon, closed the door.

"Hist!" whispered Jo. "The plot thickens."

"What is it now, Tom?" asked Jim.

"I think"--began Tom, in a low tone.

"You said that before," interrupted Jo. "But I don't believe it."

"That it would be a good plan," continued Tom, "to hide the chart in some safe place."

"Not half a bad idea, don't you know," drawled Jo, "but where is that safe place?"

"I have an idea," went on Tom.

"Clutch it before it gets away," advised Jo.

"That we can make a secret closet where we can put it."

"That is a good scheme," agreed Jim, "if--"

"Hear! Hear!" broke in Jo.

"Here, as well as anywhere," replied Tom.

"What is your plan?" asked Jim.

"I was thinking of making a secret drawer or closet in this cabin."

"Do you think we could do it?" asked Jo.

"I don't know," replied Jim. "We can tell better after we try. The proof of the--"

"Eating is in the pudding," interrupted Jo.

"Let's go ahead and do it."

"Where do you think is a good place to make it?" asked Tom, looking around the room, which was paneled in mahogany. "We might take up a board in the floor."

"But some one might get at it from underneath," objected Jo.

"No danger of that," replied Tom. "Who is going to look for it?"

"Well, if there is no danger of anyone looking for it, what is the use of hiding it?" demanded Jo.

"That's right," agreed Jim. "If we are going to do it at all, let's do it thoroughly. If we can take out one of the panels, we can make a dandy place."

"That's the idea," chimed in Tom.

"I think we can take out one of these panels," continued Jim, examining the wainscoating carefully, "but we must first get the professor's permission."

"We will ask him the first thing after dinner," cried Tom.

"And there is dinner, now," said Jo, as the sound of a gong resounded through the air.

The professor was an interesting dinner companion, and even though all felt that serious business was ahead of them, no reference was made thereto. At the conclusion of the meal Jo said:

"Professor Feather--"

"Ingstone," broke in Jim.

"Haughleigh," added Tom.

"I'm all broke up," laughed the professor.

"Can we make a hiding place in one of our staterooms?" asked Jo.

"Why, I suppose so," replied the professor. "What do you want to do, play hide and go seek?"

"In a way," laughed Jim. "We want to make a secret place in which to keep the chart."

"Oh, I see," interrupted the professor quickly. "By all means."

"You see, we can--"

"That will do," returned the professor with another laugh. "If you are going to make a secret place the fewer who know of it the more it is of a secret. Keep it to yourselves."

"Even from you?"

"From every one," said the professor emphatically. "If you need any tools or anything get them quietly."

The brothers lost no time, but at once set about making a place of concealment. Jim, who, of the three had the more genius for mechanics, taking the initiative in the work, studying carefully the artistically constructed paneling to settle upon a plan.

"Do you think it can be done so that it won't be seen?" asked Tom.