good time, that the boys were rather ashamed of their first opinion of
him.

Even Rose whispered to Bob that "he was not so bad, when you got
acquainted with him."

"Now I suppose you would like to hear the story of the abandoning of
the brig Rockhaven," said Mr. Blowitz, and the boys nodded.

"I hope no one was drowned," exclaimed Olivia.

"Not as far as we know," replied Mr. Blowitz. "The whole affair is
rather mysterious, and I am seeking information about the fate of the
ship as much as anything else."

"I would like to ask you one question," said Professor Snodgrass, who
had been more interested in the antics of a small bug, walking on the
table, than he was in his chocolate.

"What is it?" inquired Mr. Blowitz.

"Did you, or any of your men notice whether, just before the ship
sank, that all the rats on board deserted it?" asked the scientist. "I
have often heard that rats will desert a sinking ship, and I would
like to know whether it is true. If you made any observations to that
effect I wish you would tell me about them, and I can put them into a
book I am writing about rats and mice."

"I thought you were writing about horned toads," said Bob.