“It’s a funny course for them to steer from my houseboat if they were making for the foot of the lake. They must have nearly run into the island.”
“They did run into it,” said Titty.
“And then they went on?”
“They landed on the island,” said Titty, “and they left their treasure there, or whatever it was they had with them. They said it was heavy. I heard them.”
“Shiver my timbers!” said Nancy.
“Not really, Titty,” said Susan.
Captain Flint jumped to his feet. “Able-seaman,” he said, “if that box is there I’ll give you anything you’d like to have. Come on, all of you, and we’ll row across and look.”
He grabbed Titty by the hand, and shook it. Titty, almost to her surprise, found herself smiling back at him. His hand was very large, and there could be no doubt about its friendliness. And after all, even if her treasure was not Spanish gold, it was a book, and a pirate book. Her only regret was that the treasure-hunting expedition was to be so large. But that could not be helped.
“Look here,” said Nancy, “if it’s there, and you get your book back, you won’t go and turn native again.”
“Never,” said Captain Flint. “Come on. Pile into my boat, all of you.”
They ran down to the landing-place, and crowded in, the two Amazons, the four Swallows, and Captain Flint. In another moment, he was rowing round the island, and across to the island of the cormorants.