Page:Dave Porter on Cave Island.djvu/176

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162
DAVE PORTER ON CAVE ISLAND

were the property of a rich lady who was awaiting a remittance from France.

"Do these diamonds belong to the Carwith collection?" asked Roger.

"That remains to be found out," answered Dunston Porter, and then he told the pawnbroker to be sure and not let the gems go out of his possession until a further investigation could be made. The man grumbled somewhat, but when Dave's uncle spoke about calling in the officers of the law, he subsided.

"Very well, I'll keep them," he said. "And if anything is wrong, I'll do what the law requires, even if I lose by it."

"Let us visit the Golden Eagle and see Bob Sanders," said Phil, late in the afternoon. "Perhaps he knows something about the Emma Brower, and her trip."

The others were willing, and sundown found them aboard the vessel belonging to Phil's father. Hardly had they stepped on deck when a grizzled old tar, with white hair, rushed up to Dave.

"If it ain't Dave Porter!" he burst out. "Yes, sir, Dave, wot I haven't seen in a year o' Sundays! How be you, my boy?" And he caught the youth by both hands.

"Billy Dill!" exclaimed our hero, as his face lit up with pleasure. "Where in the world did