Pitch was talking to Steve now, telling him what they’d have to do that evening to prepare for their trip to Azul Island. But Steve wasn’t listening. Instead, he was thinking of Tom’s parting wager. Two weeks on the island, and he could have his pick of any of the horses there!

UNPLEASANT AWAKENING

3

The following morning they left Antago as the sun rose out of the sea, and soon were well out of sight of land. Pitch sat behind the wheel of the motor launch, his round face tense as the boat pushed its sharp prow into the heavy sea. Occasionally Steve heard him say something about being a greenhorn when it came to navigation, and that he was much better getting around on land. But Steve had little doubt that Pitch would find Azul Island. Pitch’s boat, too, although an old one, was in excellent condition and very seaworthy. She rolled slightly with the waves, making Steve feel a little uncomfortable in the region of his stomach, but he felt that he could stand anything now that he was actually on his way to Azul Island.

It had worked out nicely, he thought. Pitch’s own interest in the island and his desire to go there had made it easy for Steve.

The hours dragged on, and the sun beat mercilessly down upon the open boat. Steve was thankful for the hat that Pitch had made him bring along. Turning to his friend, he saw that Pitch was facing straight ahead, but with half-closed eyes, as though he were deep in concentration. Steve looked back at their wake and at the small dory they were towing. Pitch had insisted upon taking it along just in case something should go wrong with the launch’s motor. And lying in the back of the launch were the two backpacks that he and Pitch had crammed with tinned food, cooking utensils and a tiny stove. Beside them lay the folded canvas tent, and next to that the pick and shovel.

Steve’s eyes remained upon the last-named objects. He wondered if Pitch would mind very much when he confessed to him that he really wasn’t interested in digging up the earth in search of relics the Spaniards might have left there. Tonight he planned to tell Pitch exactly why he had come, why he wanted to explore every foot of Azul Island. And he wondered what Pitch’s reaction would be to his story.