[Illustration: Dawson Sent the Chair Spinning Across the Room. _Frontispiece_. ]

THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB

AND THE WIRELESS

OR

The Dot, Dash and Dare Cruise

By

H. IRVING HANCOCK

Author of The Motor Boat Club of the Kennebec

The Motor Boat Club at Nantucket

The Motor Boat Club off Long Island, Etc. 

Illustrated

PHILADELPHIA

HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY

Copyright 1909, by Howard E. Altemus

CONTENTS

 CHAPTER PAGE I. A Spark Puts Three Boys and a Boat on the Jump 7 II. Some of the Mystery Unraveled 26 III. Invisible Hands at the Wireless 39 IV. Taking a Great Chance 50 V. Tom Matches One Trick With Another 61 VI. Carrying Dangerous Live "Freight" 70 VII. Powell Seaton's Bad Case of "Forget" 78 VIII. The Red Message 85 IX. Mr. Seaton Unburdens Himself 92 X. The Traitor at the Aerials 105 XI. The Drab Boat Shows Her Nose 114 XII. The Searchlight Finds a "Double" 127 XIII. Tom Halstead--Ready! 139 XIV. Grit Goes up the Signal Mast 151 XV. Playing Salt Water Blind Man's Buff 160 XVI. A Gleam of Hope Through the Shroud of Fog 171 XVII. When the Motor Boat Club Boys "Went Daffy" 179 XVIII. The First Kink of the Problem Solved 187 XIX. Helpless in the Northeaster! 196 XX. "C. Q. D! C. Q. D. !--Help!" 207 XXI. The Spark Finds a Friend Through the Gale 219 XXII. Tom Halstead Springs the Climax 230 XXIII. Hank Becomes Really Terrible 244 XXIV. Conclusion 249

THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AND THE WIRELESS

CHAPTER I

A SPARK PUTS THREE BOYS AND A BOAT ON THE JUMP

"Ho, ho, ho--hum!" grumbled Hank Butts, vainly trying to stifle aprodigious yawn. "This may be what Mr. Seaton calls a vacation on fullpay, but I'd rather work. "

"It _is_ fearfully dull, loafing around, in this fashion, on a lonelyisland, yet in plain sight of the sea that we long to rove over, "nodded Captain Tom Halstead of the motor yacht "Restless. "

"Yet Hank just put us in mind of the fact that we're getting paid forour time, " laughed Joe Dawson, the least restless of the trio of youngMotor Boat Club boys. 

"Oh it's all right on the pay end, " agreed Hank, readily. "But justthink of a young fellow, full of life and hope, with a dozenambitions and a hustling nature, taking up with a job of this kind!"

"What kind of job?" inquired Captain Tom. 

"The job of being bored, " answered Butts, solemnly. "I could have hadthat kind of job back on Long Island. "

"Without the pay, " amended Joe Dawson, with another quiet smile. 

"But ten days of being bored _does_ grow rather wearisome, even withthe pay for a solace, " agreed Tom Halstead. 

Ting-ling-ling! The soft jangling of a bell from one of the rooms ofthe seashore bungalow, on the porch of which the boys sat, broke in onthem. 

"Hurrah, Joe! Hustle and get that message, " begged Hank, almostsitting up straight in the porch chair, with a comical pretense ofexcitement. "It's sure to be from Mr. Seaton this time. "

"Likely, " grinned Joe, as he rose and crossed the porch in leisurelyfashion. The jangling of the bell continued. The bell was a ratherclumsy, yet sufficing device that young Dawson had attached to thewireless telegraph apparatus. 

For, though this bungalow on a little island southwest of Beaufort, North Carolina, had an appearance of being wholly out of the world, yet the absent owner, Mr. Powell Seaton, had contrived to put hisplace very much "in the world" by installing wireless telegraphy atthe bungalow. On the premises was operated a complete electrical plantthat furnished energy enough to send messages for hundreds of milesalong the coast. 

For Joe, the mechanical genius of the Motor Boat Club, had always hada passion for telegraphy. Of late he had gone in in earnest for thewireless kind, and had rapidly mastered its most essential details. 

The bell told when electrical waves were rushing through the air atmarvelous speed, though it did not distinguish between any generalwave and the special call for this bungalow station, which was by theletters "CBA. "

When Joe Dawson went into the room under the tall aerials that hungfrom the mast, he expected to listen only to some message not in theleast intended for this station. 

Seating himself by the relay, with its Morse register close at hand, Joe Dawson picked up and adjusted the head-band with its pair ofwatch-case receivers. He then hastily picked up a pencil, shoved a padof paper close under his hand and listened. 

All this he did with a dull, listless air. He had not the slightestforewarning of the great jolt that was soon to come to himself andhis comrades out of the atmosphere. 

The call, whatever it was, had ended. Yet, after a pause of a fewseconds, it began to sound again. Joe's listless air vanished as thenew set of dots and dashes came in, clamoring in clicking hasteagainst his ear drums. 

"To Every Wireless Station--Urgent!" ran the first few words. Joe'snimble fingers pushed his pencil, recording letter after letter untilthese words were down. Then, dropping his pencil for the sending key, young Dawson transmitted a crashing electric impulse into the air, flashing through space over hundreds of miles the station signal, "CBA. "

"Have you a fast, seaworthy boat within immediate call?" came back outof the invisible distance over the ocean. 

"A twenty-six-mile sea-going motor boat right at the pier here, " Joeflashed back, again adding his signature, "CBA. "

"Good!" came back the answer. "Then listen hard--act quick--life atstake!"

Joe Dawson not only listened. His thoughts flew with the dots anddashes of the wireless message; his right hand rushed the pencil inrecording all of that wonderful message as it came to him. It wastragedy that Dawson wrote down at the dictation of this impatientoperator far out on the Atlantic highways. Almost in the midst of itcame a feverish break-in from land, and another hand was playing inthe great game of life and death, fame and dishonor, riches andintrigue. All was being unfolded by means of the unseen, far-reachingwireless telegraph. 

As Joe listened, wrote, and occasionally broke in to send a few words, the dew of cold perspiration stood out on his brow. His fingerstrembled. With a great effort of the will this motor boat boy steadiedhis nerves and muscles in order to see through to the end thismysterious thing coming out of space. 

While this was going on, Joe Dawson did not call out to either of hiscomrades. With an instinct that worked as fast as the wirelessmessages themselves, young Dawson chose to put off calling the othermotor boat boys until he had the whole startling tale to tellthem--until he had in complete form the coming orders that would sendall three of them and the "Restless" on a tireless sea-chase. 

While this flood of dots and dashes is coming in from seaward, andfrom landward, it is well that the reader be put in possession of someinformation that will make clearer to him the nature of the dramaticevents that followed this sudden in-pouring of wireless messages tothe little "CBA" bungalow station on this island off the NorthCarolina coast. 

Readers of the preceding volume of this series, "THE MOTOR BOAT CLUBOFF LONG ISLAND, " will at once recall that story, throbbing with theinterest of human life--will remember how faithfully and wisely TomHalstead, Joe Dawson and Hank Butts, all members of the Motor BoatClub, served that leader in Wall Street finance, Francis Delavan, andthe latter's nervous, wavering friend, Eben Moddridge. To such formerreaders the tale is familiar of how the Motor Boat Club boys aidedmaterially in frustrating a great conspiracy in finance, aimed againsttheir employer. Saved from ruin by the grit, keenness and loyalty ofthese three members of the Motor Boat Club, Messrs. Delavan andModdridge had handsomely rewarded the boys for their signal services. 

As Hank Butts preferred, for family reasons, to spend his summers, andmuch of his other time, on Long Island, he had been presented with athirty-foot launch, a shore lot at East Hampton, and a "shack" andpier. Tom Halstead and Joe Dawson, fast friends and both from the samelittle Kennebec River village, preferring always the broad ocean, hadbeen made the owners of the "Soudan, " a fine, sea-going, fifty-fivefoot motor cruising yacht built for deep sea work. Though the"Soudan" had a very comfortable beam of fifteen feet, she wasnevertheless equipped with twin gasoline motors that could send herover the waters at some twenty-five or twenty-six miles an hour. 

With the gift of the boat to Tom and Joe came also a present of moneyenough to make the two new young owners able to put her in commissionand keep her going for awhile. 

It was not intended by Messrs. Delavan and Moddridge that Tom Halsteadand Joe Dawson should be able to keep their new prize and propertyrunning for their own pleasure. On the contrary the givers of thissplendid present believed that the two boys would ply under charterfor wealthy pleasure seekers, thus making a splendid living. In summerthere were the northern waters; in winter the southern waters. Thus itwas believed that Captain Tom Halstead and Engineer Joe Dawson wouldbe in a position to earn a handsome income from their boat the yeararound. At any time, should they so choose, they could sell the boat. 

Sell her? It would almost have broken honest, impulsive, loyal TomHalstead's heart to sell this precious boat! Joe Dawson, quiet thoughhe was, would have flown into a rage at any suggestion of his partingwith his interest in the handsome, capable little craft!

The owners had re-christened the boat the "Restless. " Within ten daysafter the boys had left the employ of Mr. Delavan, Captain Tom hadencountered Mr. Powell Seaton in New York. A few hours after thatmeeting the boys had had their boat chartered for at least the monthof September. Then, after receiving their orders, they proceeded southto their present location on Lonely Island, five miles off themainland. They were accompanied by Hank Butts, who had left his smallboat in other hands and accepted temporary employment on the"Restless. "

The island possessed an area of about half a square mile. The bungalowitself, a shed that was used as an electric power station, and a thirdbuilding that contained a telescope and some other astronomicalapparatus were the sole interesting features of this island. 

After the chartering, and the payment of half the hire-money inadvance for the month, not one of these Motor Boat Club boys had laideyes on Mr. Powell Seaton. After cruising down from New York, andtaking possession of the bungalow, as ordered, they had remained thereten whole days, idle and wondering. Idle, that is, except for runningthe electric power plant as much as was needed, making their own bedsand doing their own cooking. 

For what purpose had Powell Seaton wanted them and the "Restless"?Now, as Dawson's active fingers pushed the pencil through the mazes ofrecorded messages, that active-minded young man began to get aglimpse. 

"Sounds like something big, Joe, " smiled Captain Tom, his eyestwinkling under the visor of his uniform cap as he thrust his head inthrough the doorway. 

"It is, " muttered Joe, in a low but tense voice. "Just wait. I've gotone to send. "

His fingers moved busily at the key for a little while. Then, snatching up the sheets of paper on which he had written, Joe Dawsonleaped to his feet in such haste that he sent the chair spinningacross the room. 

Such impulsiveness in Dawson was so utterly unusual that Captain TomHalstead gasped. 

"Come on!" called Joe, darting to the door. "Down to the boat!"

"Where----?" began Tom Halstead, but he got only as far as that word, for Joe shot back:

"To sea!"

"How----" again essayed Halstead. 

"At full speed--the fastest we can travel!" called back Joe, who wasleaping down the porch steps. 

"Any time to lock up?" demanded Tom, half-laughingly. 

"Yes--but hustle! I'll get the motor started and be waiting. "

Hank Butts was leaning indolently against one of the porch posts. 

"Look at old Joe sailing before a fair wind, " he laughed, admiringly. 

"Turn to, Hank! Help lock the windows and the doors--full speedahead!" directed Captain Tom, with vigor. "Joe Dawson never goes offat racing speed like that unless he has his orders and knows what he'sdoing. "

"I thought you were the captain, " grinned Hank, as he sprang to obey. 

"So I am, " Halstead shot at the other boy. "But, just as it happens, Joe has the sailing orders--and he can be trusted with 'em. Now--everything is tight and the keys in my pocket. For the dock, onthe run!"

Chug-chug! Joe had surely been moving, for, by the time the other boysreached the dock, Dawson had the hatchway of the motor room open andthe twin motors had begun to move. The young engineer, an oil-can inhand, was watching the revolutions of the two handsome machines. 

"Stand by the stern-line to throw off, Hank, " called Captain Tom, ashe raced out onto the dock and made a plunge for the bow hawser. Withthis in hand he sprang aboard. 

"How soon, Joe?" called the young skipper, throwing the canvas coverfrom the wheel down onto the bridge deck. 

"As soon as you like, " was Joe's answer, as he threw more speed intothe twin motors. 

Hank had the stern hawser in his hands by this time. Halstead threwthe wheel over slightly, warping the boat's graceful bow away from thedock under just a touch of speed ahead. 

"Come aboard, Hank!" called the young skipper. As soon as Butts hadobeyed with a flying leap, Tom rang for half speed ahead, movingsmoothly out of the little sand-bound harbor. 

"Coil the hawsers, Hank, " directed the young skipper. "Put the wheelcover away. Then relieve Joe. I want to hear from him. "

These three separate orders Hank had executed within less than twominutes, and jumped down into the motor room. Joe came on deck, holding the sheets of paper in his hand. 

"Now, let's understand what the business is, anyway, " suggested TomHalstead. "Who signaled us? Mr. Seaton?"

"Yes, but he wasn't the first one, " Dawson answered. "The first hailcame from out of the sea, from the Black B liner, 'Constant, 'addressed to any wireless station and tagged 'urgent. ' Here it is. "

One hand on the wheel, the young skipper received the sheet held outto him. It read:

 Can you send fast boat instantly to take off badly injured passenger for medical treatment? Passenger A. B. Clodis, believed to be wealthy man from New York, discovered unconscious, perhaps dying, from fall. Fractured skull. Believe passenger or family to be able to pay handsomely for services. 

 (Signed) Hampton, _captain_. 

"Here's another sheet giving the ship's position at that moment, " Joecontinued; "also her course and speed. "

"And you answered?" demanded Halstead. 

"Just as I started to, the wireless at Beaufort broke in. It seemsthat Mr. Seaton is at Beaufort, and that he heard, at once, of thetrouble. Here is Mr. Seaton's order. "

Joe Dawson held out another sheet, on which he had transcribed thiswireless message:

 Halstead, Lonely Island: Clodis is my man on important matter. Get him off ship, and with all speed. Take him to Lonely Island, where I will arrive with surgeons and nurses. Get all his baggage and papers off with him, and take greatest care of same. Whole thing plotted by enemies. If they succeed it spells ruin for me and more than one tragedy. I depend on you boys; don't fail me! Act at full speed. 

 (Signed) Powell Seaton. 

 P. XXX S. 

"That comes from Mr. Seaton, all right, " nodded Captain Tom. "That'shis private signal, below his name, that he told us to look for on allorders of his. Now, let me have a look again at the position andcourse of the 'Constant. '"

After studying the dispatch intently, Captain Halstead nodded to hischum to take the wheel. Facing about, Tom swung open the smallchart-case secured to the top of the deck-house. With a small, accurate pocket rule he made some measurements. 

"At twenty-five miles an hour, Joe, if you can keep it up, a straightsou'east by east course should bring us right in the path of the'Constant' on the course and speed she reports. "

"Oh, we can keep the speed up, " predicted Joe, confidently. "But Ican't fool with the engine, unless you insist. I ought to be back inthe cabin, at the wireless instrument. "

"Hank can keep at the motors, then, " nodded Captain Tom. "Go along, old fellow. "

Joe paused but an instant to give Hank the needed orders, then racedaft. At the after end of the cabin were two snug little staterooms; atthe other end, forward, a table had been fitted up with wirelessapparatus, for the twin motors of the boat generated, by means of adynamo, electricity enough for a very respectable wireless spark. 

Hardly had Joe vanished when Hank, satisfied with the performance ofthe motors, appeared on deck. The signal mast stood just behind thebridge deck. It was of light, hollow steel, with two inner tubes that, when extended, made an unusually high mast for such a boat. 

"We can run the extension mast up to full height in this light breeze, can't we, Tom?" asked the Long Island boy. Halstead nodded. 

So simple was the arrangement that, within a few moments, Hank had theaerials well aloft. Nor was he too soon, for this query came promptlythrough space from Powell Seaton, up at Beaufort:

"Are you starting at once?"

With a quiet grin, all alone there by the wireless apparatus, youngDawson sparked back through the air:

"Three miles east, and running to intercept the 'Constant. '"

"Good!" came clicking into Joe Dawson's watch-case receivers againsthis ears, a moment later. "Then I won't bother you further. I trustyou. But, oh, if you should fail! You don't know what failuremeans--to me!"

All this, of course, was clicked out in the dot and dash code of theMorse alphabet, but to Joe Dawson it was as plain as words spoken bythe human voice. 

"You're right, Mr. Seaton. " Joe's busy right hand fingers clicked outthe message on the sending key, while the electric waves sped from theaerials aloft outside. "We don't know what 'failure' means. We won'tfail you. Good-bye. "

Then Joe turned his attention to the "Constant. " The big Black B lineranswered promptly. She was on the same course, and glad to know thatthe "Restless" was speeding over the sea to seek her. 

Having finished in raising the extended signal mast, and glancing intothe motor room to see that the motors were running smoothly, Hankleaned against the raised deck top. The Long Island boy was hardly tobe expected as a member of the crew of the "Restless" on this cruise, but he had wound up the summer season at East Hampton, and now, withidle September coming upon him, he had found the longing for the broadsea too powerful for him. Family conditions at home beingsatisfactory, he had promised himself this one month away from home, and was aboard as steward and general helper. 

"I wonder if our work for Mr. Seaton has started in earnest?" venturedHank. 

"It has, for a few hours to-day, anyway, " smiled Captain Tom. "We'recruising at full speed, and under orders from the man who charteredthe 'Restless' for this month. "

"But who can this Clodis be?"

"I don't know, " Tom Halstead admitted. 

"I wonder why Mr. Seaton is so mightily interested in him? What doesSeaton mean by hinting at ruin and tragedies?"

"Do you know what I think, Hank?" queried the young skipper, quietly. 

"What?"

"I think it would be downright impudence on our part to get tooinquisitive about the affairs of the man who employs us. We looked Mr. Seaton up, and found he had the reputation of being an honest man. That's as much of his business as we have any right to want to know. "

Hank colored, though he went on, in an argumentative way:

"I s'pose that's all true enough, Tom. Still, it's human nature, whenyou smell a big mystery, to want to know the meaning of at least someof it. And I'm mighty curious, because I scent something unusually bigin the air. "

"So do I, " admitted the young skipper, giving the wheel another turnin order to hold the fast-moving boat to her course. 

"Then what----"

"Hold on, Hank! Don't be downright nosey. And, as for guessing----"

"Why, Seaton as good as hints that there's been a downright attempt tokill this man Clodis, " broke in Hank, who could not be repressedeasily. "And Seaton is surely mightily worked up about it. And sendingus out to take a passenger off a steamer bound for South America! Tom, do you s'pose that criminals are----"

"Hank, " broke in the young skipper, half-severely, "there's somethingsqueaking on one of the motors. For goodness' sake don't let us breakdown on what we've been told is a life-and-death trip! Get below andsee what's wrong. Stand by to watch the performance of the motors. "

Hank vanished, inwardly grumbling, for his curiosity was doing twohours' work every minute. 

Captain Tom, after measuring on the chart, had figured on meeting the"Constant" in two hours and twenty minutes. Now, at every turn of thetwin shafts the young skipper's blood bounded with the desire to dohis full duty in arriving on time. Yet there was not wanting pleasure, mixed with the anxiety. How good the fresh, salty air tasted, out hereon the broad sea, with the low coast-line already nearly out of sight!Tom Halstead sniffed in breath after breath. His eyes danced as theybeheld the spraying of white water cut and turned up by the boat'sfast prow. Oh, it was great to be out here on the deep, one handguiding the course of one of the nimblest yachts afloat!

Joe, as he came forward, felt this same wild exhilaration. Quiet, dutiful and law-abiding as both these Motor Boat Club boys were, theremust have been much of the old Norseman Viking blood in their veins, for this swift dash over the rolling swell of the ocean was like atonic to them both. 

"Say, isn't it all grand?" demanded Joe, his cheeks glowing, as hepaused on the bridge deck, taking in great whiffs of the purest airsupplied to man. 

"Great!" admitted Skipper Tom, in a tone that was almost a cheer. Thenhe asked, gravely:

"Any news?"

"Mr. Seaton knows we have started, and expresses his pleasure. I'vesignaled the 'Constant, ' and she's still keeping to the same course, and will so continue. "

"And the patient, Clodis?"

"Still alive, Tom; but the ship's surgeon offers no hope, and will beglad to have us take him onto the 'Restless. '"

"It must be something terrible to make Mr. Seaton so anxious aboutthe man, " observed Tom, thoughtfully. 

"Yes, " nodded Joe. Then: "Say, Tom, I've just struck an easy schemefor connecting one of the armatures of the Morse register, aft, to abuzzer in the engine room. Then if I happen to be in the engine roomwhen wireless messages are traveling through the air I shall knowit. "

In the next hour all three of the boys, though they did not talk muchabout it, were wondering about this tragedy of the deep sea that hadcalled them into action. Though they could not as yet guess it, thispresent affair of theirs was but the start of a series of adventuresmore amazing than any they had ever dreamed of. Now, at the most, theywere curious. Soon they were to know what it meant to be astounded;they were soon to know what it felt like to feel haunted, to findthemselves assailed by dread after dread. Undoubtedly it was mercifulfor them that they could not, at this moment, peer behind the curtainof the immediate future. 

So, ignorant of what fate and destiny held in store for them, theywere mainly intent, now, upon intercepting at the right point the bigliner cruising swiftly southward. 

In another hour they made out smoke on the horizon where Skipper Tomjudged the "Constant" to be. Later the spars of the steamship werevisible through the marine glasses. Then the hull appeared. A fewminutes later Captain Tom ran the "Restless" dashingly in alongsidethe great black hull of the liner, along whose starboard rail ahundred or more passengers had gathered. 

Turning the wheel over to Hank, Captain Tom Halstead snatched up themegaphone as the larger vessel slowed down. 

"'Constant, ' ahoy!" bellowed the young skipper. "This is the yacht'Restless, ' sent to receive your injured passenger, Clodis. "

"'Restless' ahoy!" came the response from the liner's bridge. "We'lllower our starboard side gangway, if you can come alongside safely. "

The Motor Boat Club boys were at the threshold of their strangest, wildest succession of adventures!

CHAPTER II

SOME OF THE MYSTERY UNRAVELED

"IF we can come alongside safely, " echoed Hank, disgustedly. "I'llshow 'em--and in a smooth swell of sea like this, too!"

As the big steamship lay to, Hank steered in until Captain Tom, boathook in hand, made fast temporarily. Then Hank hurried up with aline with which he took a fast hitch. 

"Hey, there, you'll pull away our side gangway, " roared down a mate, whose head and uniform cap showed over the rail above. 

"You don't know us, " grinned Joe Dawson, quietly. 

By this time Tom Halstead was running lightly up the steps of thegangway. He reached the small platform above, then passed to thedeck. 

He was met by Captain Hampton, who inquired:

"Where's your sailing master, young man?"

"Right before you, Captain. "

"You?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Who are your owners?" demanded Captain Hampton, much astonished byTom's quiet assurance. 

"I'm captain and half-owner of the 'Restless, ' sir, " Halsteadcontinued, still smiling at the other captain's very evidentastonishment. "The other owner is the engineer, Joe Dawson, my chum. "

Captain Hampton swallowed something very hard. Several of thepassengers were smiling. A man who has followed the sea for yearsknows the capacity and efficiency that boys often display onshipboard, but it is unusual to find a boy acting as master of ayacht. 

However, there was the "Restless, " and there was Tom Halstead in thecaptain's uniform. These were facts that could not be disputed. 

"You have a passenger, a Mr. Clodis, that you want to have me takeoff?" resumed Tom. 

"Yes; you have come for him, then?"

"Not only that, but Mr. Seaton, the gentleman who has our boat incharter, has very urgently ordered us to bring Mr. Clodis ashore; alsohis baggage complete, and any and all papers that he may have broughtaboard. "

"You have a comfortable berth on your boat?"

"Several of them, " Tom answered. 

"Then I'll have some of my men make the transfer at once. Our ship'ssurgeon, Dr. Burke, will also go over the side and see that Mr. Clodisis made as comfortable as possible for his trip ashore. "

"Steward Butts will show your men to the port stateroom, aft, sir. "

A mate hurried away to give the order to Dr. Burke. A boatswain wasdirected to attend to having all of Mr. Clodis's baggage go over theside. 

"Come to my stateroom, sir, if you please, " requested Captain Hampton, and Tom followed. 

"When you take a man with a fractured skull ashore, the authoritiesmay want some explanation, " declared the 'Constant's' sailing master, opening his desk. "Here is a statement, therefore, that I haveprepared and signed. Take it with you, Captain----"

"Halstead, " supplied Tom. 

The motor boat boy glanced hurriedly through the document. 

"I see you state it was an accident, Captain Hampton, " went onHalstead, lowering his voice. "Our charter-man, Mr. Seaton, intimatedthat he believed it might have been a deliberate assault. Have youanything that you wish to say on this point, sir?"

"I don't believe it was an assault, " replied the ship's master, musingly. Halstead's quick eye noted that Hampton appeared to be asturdy, honest sea-dog. "Still, Captain Halstead, if you would like toquestion the steward who found Mr. Clodis at the foot of the mainsaloon companionway----"

"Have you made the investigation thoroughly, sir?"

"I think so--yes. "

"Then nothing is likely to be gained, Captain, by my asking anyquestions of a steward you have already questioned. "

The mate came back to report that Mr. Clodis had been carried overthe side, and that his baggage had been taken aboard the "Restless. "

"I know you don't want a liner held up, " Tom went on, slipping CaptainHampton's report of the accident into his pocket. "I'll go over theside, sir, as soon as you can ascertain whether Mr. Clodis had anypapers that ought to be sent ashore with him. "

"There are none in the injured man's pockets, " replied the steamship'ssailing master, "and none were deposited with the purser. So, if thereare any papers, they must be in Mr. Clodis's trunk or bag. "

"Thank you, sir. Then I'll bid you good-bye and hurry over the side, "said Halstead, energetically. 

As they stepped out of the stateroom a passenger who had beenlingering near stepped up. 

"Oh, one moment, " said Captain Hampton, suddenly. "Captain Halstead, this gentleman is Mr. Arthur Hilton. Since leaving New York he hasreceived some wireless news that makes him anxious to return. He wantsto go ashore with you. "

Arthur Hilton had stepped forward, holding out his hand, which Tomtook in his own. Mr. Hilton was a man of about thirty, smooth-faced, with firm set jaws. Though evidently not a Spaniard, he had thecomplexion usual to that race. His dark eyes were keen and sharp, though they had a rather pleasant look in them. He was slender, perhaps five feet eight inches tall, and, although his waist and legswere thin, he had broad, rather powerful looking shoulders. 

"You can set me ashore, can't you, young man, for a ten-dollar bill?"inquired Hilton. 

"Certainly, if Captain Hampton knows no reason why you shouldn't leavethe vessel, " Tom answered. 

"Mr. Hilton has surrendered his passage ticket, and there is nothingto detain him aboard, " replied the steamship's master. 

"Your baggage ready, sir?" asked Tom. 

"Nothing but this bag, " laughed Hilton, stepping back and picking uphis hand luggage. 

"Come along, then, sir. "

As Tom Halstead pressed his way through the throng of passengersgathered on deck, he heard several wondering, and some admiring, remarks relative to the youthfulness of the skipper of so handsome andtrim a yacht. 

Hilton followed the young skipper down over the side. Tom turned tohelp him to the deck of the "Restless, " but Hilton lightly leapedacross, holding his bag before him. Tom Halstead, as he turned, got agood look at that bag. It was one that he was likely to remember formany a day. The article was of dark red leather, and on one side thesurface for a space as large as a man's hand had been torn away, probably in some accident. 

"Here's the passage money, Captain, " said Hilton, passing over aten-dollar bill. Murmuring his thanks, the young skipper crumpled upthe bill, shoving it into a trousers pocket, then hurried aft. 

Clodis was a short, almost undersized man of perhaps forty-five, stoutand well dressed. His head was so bandaged, as he lay in the lowerberth of the port stateroom, that not much of his face was visible. 

"He's unconscious, and probably will be for hours, " stated Dr. Burke, as Captain Tom appeared in the doorway. "If he comes to, I've leftsome medicine with your steward, to be given the patient. Of courseyou'll get him ashore and under medical care as promptly as possible, Captain. "

"Surgeons are on the way from Beaufort to meet us, " the young skippernodded. 

"Then I'll return to my ship, " declared Dr. Burke, rising. "But I'mglad to know that Mr. Clodis is going to be met by a friend. "

As the doctor hurried over the side, Hilton turned to walk aft. 

"Stay forward, if you please, sir, " interposed Captain Tom. "No one isto go into the cabin until the patient has been removed under adoctor's orders. "

There was a frown on Hilton's face, which, however, almost instantlyvanished. Joe brought a deck arm chair and placed it for Mr. Hilton onthe bridge deck. 

"Good luck for you and your patient, sir, " called down Captain Hamptonover the rail, as he prepared to get under headway. 

"Thank you, sir, " Tom acknowledged. "We'll take the best care of Mr. Clodis that we know how. "

With Hank on duty in the cabin, Tom Halstead had to cast off and makehis own start as best he could. He managed the double task neatly, however, and, as he fell away the "Constant's" engine-room bell couldbe heard for half-speed-ahead. 

The little auto-whistle of the "Restless" sounded shrilly, to beanswered with a long, deep-throated blast from the liner's steamwhistle. With this brief interchange of sea courtesies the two craftfell apart, going on their respective ways. 

"Full speed on the return?" called Joe, from the doorway of the motorroom. 

"Yes, " nodded Captain Tom. "But look out for vibration. Our sick manhas had his skull cracked. "

By the time the yacht had gone scooting for more than a mile over thewaves, Captain Halstead, left hand on the wheel, turned to Hilton. 

"Did you hear how our sick man came to be hurt, sir?"

"I didn't hear of it until a couple of hours after it happened, "replied Hilton. "I understand that Mr. Clodis fell down the stairsleading to the main saloon, and was picked up unconscious. That wasabout all the word that was given out on board. "

Captain Tom nodded, then gave his whole attention to making LonelyIsland as speedily as possible. There was no land in sight, and thetrip back was a long one. Yet the young skipper had his bearingsperfectly. 

They were still some eight miles off Lonely Island when Hilton rousedhimself at sight of a low-hulled, black schooner scudding north undera big spread of canvas. 

"You're going to pass close to that boat, aren't you, Captain?" askedthe bridge deck passenger. 

"Yes, sir; pretty close. "

"As I understand it, you're going to land at an island some miles offthe coast, whereas I wish to reach the mainland at the earliestpossible moment, and catch a railway train. So, Captain, if you'llsignal that schooner and put me aboard, I shall feel under sufficientobligation to hand you another ten-dollar bill. "

That looked so much like earning money rapidly that Halstead calledJoe up from the motor room to set the signal. The schooner lay tountil overtaken. Hilton discovered that the schooner was bound forBeaufort, and the bargain was quickly completed. A small boat put offfrom the sailing vessel and the bridge deck passenger, his noticeablebag included, was transferred. 

The "Restless" was nearer Lonely Island, and the schooner was hulldown, when Captain Tom suddenly started as Joe Dawson stepped upondeck. 

"Blazes, Joe!" exclaimed the young skipper. "I'm afraid we've doneit!"

"I'm afraid so, too, " came quietly from the young engineer. 

"That fellow Hilton, so anxious to get ashore, may be the very chapwho struck down Mr. Clodis!"

"The thought had just come to me, " admitted Joe. 

"Yes! You know, Mr. Seaton hinted that the 'accident' might have beenan attempt to kill. "

Captain and engineer of the "Restless" stared disconcertedly at eachother. 

"Now, why did I have to go and make such a fearful stumble as that?"groaned Tom. 

"You didn't, any more than I did, " Joe tried to console him. 

"We should, at least, have kept Hilton aboard until Mr. Seaton had hada chance to look him over. "

"I could send a wireless to the Beaufort police to grab Hilton onlanding, " suggested Joe, doubtfully, but Tom Halstead shook his headenergetically. 

"No; the Beaufort police wouldn't do that on our say-so, Joe. And, even if they did, we might get ourselves into a lot of trouble. "

The "Restless" kept smoothly, swiftly on her way, bounding over thelow, gentle swell of the calm ocean. Tom shivered whenever he thoughtof the possibility of the motors becoming cranky. With such importanthuman freight aboard any mishap to the machinery would be extremelyserious. 

"Joe, " called Tom, at last, as the yacht came in sight of LonelyIsland, "there's a tug at our dock. "

Dawson came on deck, taking the marine glass from his chum's hand. 

"I guess Mr. Seaton has been hustling, then. He couldn't have comefrom Beaufort on the tug, after all the trouble of rounding updoctors. He must have come down the shore in an automobile, and thenengaged the tug near the island. "

As the "Restless" went closer, the tug, with two short toots of itswhistle, moved out from the dock. Powell Seaton, in broad-brimmed hatand blue serge, waved his hand vigorously at the boys. With him stoodthree men, presumably surgeons. Captain Tom Halstead sounded threeshort blasts of the auto-whistle to signal the success of his errand, while Joe swung his uniform cap over his head. 

"Get down to your engines, Joe, " called Captain Tom. "I'm going tomake a swift landing that will be in keeping with Mr. Seaton'simpatience. "

Up to within nearly two hundred yards of the dock the "Restless"dashed in at full speed. Then signaling for half speed, next for thestop, and finally for the reverse, Captain Tom swung the yacht inalmost a semi-circle, running up with bare headway so that the boatlay in gently against the string-piece. In that instant Tom, leavingthe wheel, bounded up onto the dock, bow hawser in hand, and made theloop fast over the snubbing post. In the same instant Joe Dawson, cat-footed, raced aft, next leaping ashore with the stern hawser. 

"Jove, but that was a beautiful bit of boat-handling--a superb pieceof seamanship!" muttered one of the surgeons, admiringly. 

Powell Seaton, however, stopped to hear none of this. He gripped Tomby the arm, demanding hoarsely:

"You brought Clodis ashore? How is he? Where?"

"Still unconscious, sir, and the ship's doctor offered no hope. Youwill find your friend in the port stateroom, sir. "

Signing to the surgeons to accompany him, Mr. Seaton vanished aft, themedical men with him. Ten minutes passed before Hank came up, alone. 

"What do the doctors say, Hank?" demanded Tom, instantly. 

"One chance in about a million, " replied Hank, in a very subduedvoice--for him. 

Five minutes later Mr. Seaton, hat in hand, also came up on deck. 

"Mr. Seaton, " murmured Tom, eagerly, "I've been waiting for you. I--we've something to tell you. " Then the young skipper detailed theaffair of taking Arthur Hilton from the "Constant" and transferringhim to the Beaufort-bound schooner. 

"Describe the fellow!" commanded Powell Seaton, suddenly, hoarsely. 

Captain Tom did so. 

"Arthur Hilton he called himself, did he?" cried Mr. Seaton, in arage. "Anson Dalton is the scoundrel's real name!"

"Who is he, sir?" Tom asked, anxiously. 

"Who is Anson Dalton?" cried Mr. Seaton, his voice sounding as thoughhe were choking. "Who, but the scoundrel who has engineered this wholedesperate plot against me! The dastard who struck down Allan Clodis!The knave who has striven for the badge of Cain!"

CHAPTER III

INVISIBLE HANDS AT THE WIRELESS

In a rear bedroom, the furthest apartment from the wireless room ofthe bungalow, Allan Clodis, barely alive, was placed when they borehim up from the boat. Then the three surgeons, retaining only HankButts, drove the others from the room. 

"Back to the wireless!" breathed Seaton, tensely. "Dawson, getBeaufort on the jump. "

"I have the Beaufort operator, " reported Joe, after a few moments. 

"Then rush this message, and ask the operator to get it in the handsof the chief of police without an instant's loss of time, " directedMr. Seaton, speaking in jerky haste. 

The message described Anson Dalton, also the black schooner on whichhe had last been seen. The police chief was asked to arrest Dalton onsight, on the authority of Powell Seaton, and hold him for the UnitedStates authorities, for an attempt at homicide on an American ship onthe high seas. 

Within ten minutes back came the reply from Beaufort to this effect:

"I have men out watching for the schooner. Man Dalton will be arrestedas you request. Will notify you. "

"Good!" cried Mr. Seaton, rubbing his hands vengefully. "Oh, Dalton, you scoundrel, you can't escape us now, for long! You knew that, ifyou continued down the coast, there was danger that a United Statesrevenue cutter would intercept the ship and take you off. At best, youknew you would be arrested at Rio Janeiro, if I suspected you, as Iwas bound to do. So you tried to steal ashore here, to be swallowed upin the mazes of this broad country at least an hour or two ahead ofpursuit. And, but for the wireless spark that leaps through space, youcould have done so. But we shall have you now. "

"Unless----" began Tom Halstead, hintingly, then paused. 

"Unless--what?" insisted Mr. Seaton. 

"Suppose Dalton is shrewd enough to pay the captain of the schooner toland him at some other point, where there is neither a policeman nor atelegraph station?"

Seaton made a noise that sounded as though he were grinding his teeth. Then he picked up a pencil, writing furiously. 

"Send this to the police chief at Beaufort, " he ordered. Joe Dawson'sfingers made the sending-key sing. The message was one warning thepolice chief that Dalton might attempt to land at some point outsideof Beaufort, and asking him to cover all near points along the coast. Mr. Seaton offered to make good any expense that this would entail. 

Once more, in a few minutes, the answer was at hand. 

"Chief of police at Beaufort says, " Joe translated the dots anddashes, "that his authority does not extend beyond the city limits. "

Again Mr. Seaton began to show signs of fury. Then, as though to forceself-control, he trod softly out of the room, going toward the door ofthe sick-room, where Hank Butts stood guard. 

"No news, sir; no change, " Hank reported, in an undertone. 

"I'm afraid Mr. Seaton is pretty angry with us, " said Tom Halstead, gravely, "for allowing Hilton--Dalton, I mean--to get away from us. "

"Then he may as well get over it, " commented Joe Dawson, quietly. "We're hired to furnish a boat, to sail it, and, incidentally, to runa wireless telegraph apparatus. We didn't engage ourselves aspolicemen. "

"True, " nodded young Captain Halstead. "Still, I might have done somequicker thinking. My! What would Dalton have felt like if I had runstraight for this dock, refusing to put him aboard any other craft?"

"If you had tried to do that, " retorted Joe, with another quiet smile, "do you know, Tom, what I think your friends would have been doing andsaying of you?"

"No; of course not. "

"Your friends would have been sending flowers, and bringing tears. They would be looking at you, to-morrow, and saying, in undertones:'Goodness, how natural he looks!'"

Halstead was puzzled for a moment or two. Then, comprehending, hegrinned, though he demanded:

"You think Dalton would have dared anything like that?"

"Well, you notice what kind of a rascal Mr. Seaton thinks Dalton is. And you know we don't go armed aboard the 'Restless. ' Now, I'm prettycertain that Dalton could have displayed and used weapons if we hadgiven him any cause to do so. "

Ten minutes later, when Powell Seaton entered the room, he beheldCaptain Tom Halstead seated at the operator's table, sealing anenvelope that he had just directed. 

"What are you doing, Captain?" asked the charter-man. 

"You know that miserable twenty dollars that I took from Anson Daltonfor passage money?" inquired Halstead, looking up. 

"Yes. "

"I've just enclosed the money in this envelope, with a note. "

"Going to return the money to Dalton when you find his address?"smiled Mr. Seaton, wearily. 

"No, sir, " retorted Tom, in a voice sharp with disgust. "Dalton seemsto have more money, already, than is good for him. I've addressed thisenvelope to a county institution down in the state that I come from. "

"A public institution?"

"Yes, sir; the home for feeble-minded youth. "

"Don't take it so hard as that, Halstead, " urged Mr. Seaton. "Had youhad a suspicion you would have done whatever lay in your power. Imight have warned you against Dalton, but the truth is, _I_ did notimagine he would be right on the scene. "

Saying which, Powell Seaton walked away by himself. He was gravely, even sadly preoccupied. Though Captain Halstead could not even guesswhat the underlying mystery was, he knew that it seriously affectedMr. Seaton's plans and fortune. Their charter-man was worried almostpast endurance, though bravely trying to hide the fact. 

After the consultation of the surgeons, two of them departed aboardthe tug, the third remaining to care for the patient. Hank, despiteall his bluntness of manner, was proving himself valuable in thesick-room, while Joe spent most of his time in the wireless room ofthe bungalow, waiting to receive or send any word. So, as eveningcame, Tom Halstead bestirred himself with the preparation of theevening meal. 

By dark there was a considerable wind blowing. Halstead left hiscooking long enough to run down and make sure that all was snug andtight aboard the "Restless. " The young skipper had fairly to fight hisway against the wind on his return to the bungalow. 

"There's going to be a tough old gale to-night, " Tom muttered tohimself, as he halted, a moment, on the porch, to study the weatherconditions. 

As yet, it was blowing only fairly hard. As the little group at thebungalow seated themselves at supper, however, the storm broke, with adeluge of rain and a sharp roar of thunder. 

"This will bother wireless conditions to-night, won't it?" queried Mr. Seaton, as they ate. 

"Some, perhaps, if the gale and the storm keep up, " replied JoeDawson. "But I imagine the worst of the gale is passing now. "

And so it proved. An hour later the rain was falling steadily, thoughonly in a drizzle. The wind had moderated a good deal. 

As all hands, save Hank, sat in the sitting room of the bungalow, after the meal, the warning bell from the apparatus room suddenlytinkled. 

"You see, sir, " said Joe, rising quickly, "the wireless is still ableto work. "

He passed into the next room, seating himself by the instruments andslipping on the head-band that held the receivers. 

"From Beaufort, sir, " Joe said, presently, looking up. "The policereport that no such schooner has landed at that city. "

"Acknowledge the message of the police, " directed Mr. Seaton, "and askthem not to give up the lookout through the night. Tell the chief ofpolice that I'll gladly meet any expense that may be incurred. "

Joe's right hand reached out for the sending-key. Then a blank lookflashed across his face. 

"Something wrong with the sending-key connections, " he explained, in alow voice, leaping up. He examined the connections closely, yet, themore he looked, the more puzzled he became. 

"The storage batteries can't have given out, " he muttered, snatchingup a lighted lantern. "But I'll go and look at them. "

Out into the little dynamo shed he darted, followed by Powell Seatonand by Tom. The doctor was dozing in an arm-chair. 

Joe gave two or three swift looks at the dynamo, the storage batteryconnections and other parts of the apparatus. Then his face went whitewith rage. 

"Look here, Mr. Seaton, " he panted, hoarsely. "There's been someinfernal work here--someone else has been on the island, for none ofour crowd would do such a trick! Not even in fun! Look, sir, at wherethe parts have been tampered with. Look where pliers have been used tocut the wire connections. See where these two bolts have been neatlyremoved with the help of wrenches. Look at----"

Joe paused, then glanced wildly around. 

"Great Scott!" he groaned. "Just the parts removed that can't bereplaced. The whole generating plant crippled! Mr. Seaton, until weget in touch with the mainland, and get some needed supplies there, wecan't use this wireless plant again. We can receive messages--yes, upto any limit, but not a word can we send away from here. "

"But who can have done this trick?" gasped Powell Seaton, looking asthough amazement had numbed him, as, indeed, it almost had. 

"Someone has landed here, since dark, " broke in Tom Halstead, alla-quiver with dismay. "While we were at supper some sneak or sneakshave landed on this island. They have pried their way in here, andthey've crippled our connection with the outside world. "

"They could do it all easily enough, without making any noise, "confirmed Joe. "Yes--they've done a splendid job, from a scoundrel'spoint of view!"

"Then you can't make this apparatus work for the sending of even asingle message?" demanded Mr. Seaton. 

"Not until we've landed some necessary repair and replacementmaterials from the mainland, " replied Joe, with a disgusted shake ofhis head. 

"But you can still send messages from the 'Restless, '" hinted PowellSeaton. 

Tom Halstead bounded for the door of the dynamo shed with a suddenexclamation of dread. 

"We can use the boat's wireless, " nodded Joe, following, and speakingover his shoulder, "unless the same crowd of rascals have broken intothe boat's motor room or cabin and played us the same trick there. "

In the big sitting room, beside the large open fire-place, was a pileof long sticks of firewood. Tom Halstead stopped to snatch up one ofthese, and Joe quickly followed suit. 

"I'll go down to the boat with you, boys, " said Mr. Seaton, who hadfollowed them. "If there's anyone around to put up a fight you'll wantsome help. "

But Captain Tom, acting, for the moment, as though he were aboard theyacht, suddenly took command. 

"Mr. Seaton, " he said, "you'd better remain here to guard yourunconscious friend. Doctor, wake up! Better go in and send Hank Buttsout on the trot. We'll take him with us. "

Dr. Cosgrove, awaking and realizing that something important washappening, swiftly moved off to the sick-room. Hank was speedily outwith his comrades. 

"If there are rascals on this island, who have designs against you, Mr. Seaton, then mount guard over your friend, " Tom added. "Better bein the sick-room at any moment when Dr. Cosgrove leaves there. Hank, get a club from that pile. Now, come along, fellows, and we'll seewhat infernal mischief may have been done to the 'Restless. '"

With that, the young skipper bounded out onto the porch, thencerunning down the board walk toward the dock. 

Tom Halstead had some vague but highly uneasy notions as to the safetyof his beloved boat. Yet, alarmed as he was, he was hardly preparedfor the shock that met him when he arrived at the edge of the littlewharf. 

"Say, can you beat that?" panted young Halstead, halting, thunderstruck, and gazing back at his stupefied comrades. "Therascals--whoever they are--have stolen the 'Restless. ' Joe, oursplendid boat is gone!"

CHAPTER IV

TAKING A GREAT CHANCE

Joe, with a voiceless gulp, sprang forward once more, pausing at thestring-piece only, and peering hard out into the black, wet night. 

Hank Butts brought his club down over a snubbing post with such forceas to shatter the weapon. 

For a few moments Tom Halstead stood looking about him in an uncertainway, as though trying to arouse himself from a hideous nightmare. 

"They've stolen our boat!" he gasped. 

Whoever had done this deed might almost as well have taken the youngcaptain's life. The "Restless" was a big part of that life. 

"Oh, well, " muttered Hank, thickly, "whoever took the yacht must leaveit somewhere. You can't hide a craft of that size. We'll hear from the'Restless' all right, in a day or two--or in a week, anyway. "

"Whoever took the yacht away from here may know next to nothing abouthandling a boat, " choked Tom, hoarsely. "We may find the dear oldcraft again--yes--but perhaps wedged on the rocks somewhere, --ahopeless wreck. O-o-oh! It makes me feel ugly and heartsick, all inone!"

"The 'Restless' can't have broken loose during the storm, can it?"asked Hank Butts. 

"No, " retorted Tom and Joe in the same breath, and with the utmostpositiveness. 

"Well, what are we going to do?" asked Hank. 

The answer to the question was hard to find. Lonely Island lay fivemiles off the shore. Wireless communication was out of the question. They were out of the track of passing vessels, nor was any stray, friendly craft at all likely to show up on this dark, forbiddingnight. 

"Come on back, fellows, " said Tom, chokingly. "There's nothing we cando here, and Mr. Seaton must know the whole situation. "

The owner of the bungalow listened to them with a blank face when theMotor Boat Club boys again stood before him. 

"I can't even guess what to make out of this, " he confessed. 

"It would help Dalton greatly if Mr. Clodis died to-night, wouldn'tit, sir?" inquired the young skipper. 

"It would help Dalton much, and be of still greater value to thewretches behind Dalton, " replied Mr. Seaton, grinding his teeth. 

"Then, sir, as the tug went back to mainland with two of the doctors, isn't it possible that some spy may have concluded that _all_ thedoctors had returned until summoned again?"

"That seems very likely, " nodded the owner of the bungalow. 

"Then perhaps Dalton--and those behind him--hope that Mr. Clodis willbecome much worse, and die before you can again summon help from themainland. "

"That looks more likely than any other explanation of these strangehappenings, " agreed Mr. Seaton, studying the floor, while the frown onhis face deepened. 

"And the scoundrels, " quavered Tom, "may even come back during thenight and try to make _sure_ that Mr. Clodis dies without everbecoming conscious. "

"I don't quite see why they need care so much, " replied Mr. Seaton, slowly. "Dalton got all of Clodis's papers--the ones that I wantedpreserved from the wretches back of Dalton. "

"Are you sure they have _all_?" propounded Captain Halstead. 

"Why, Clodis carried the papers in a money-belt, and, in undressinghim, we found that belt gone. "

"Have you looked through the baggage that we brought ashore with Mr. Clodis?"

"I haven't thought of it. Haven't had time, " replied Mr. Seaton. "ButI will now. Mr. Clodis's steamer trunk is in the room with him. We'llbring it out, and search. "

Tom and Hank brought the trunk out. 

"The lock hasn't been tampered with, you see, sir, " suggestedHalstead. 

"Here are Clodis's keys, " replied Powell Seaton, producing a ring. Oneof the keys he fitted to the trunk lock, next throwing up the lid. After rummaging for a few moments, Mr. Seaton brought up a sealedenvelope from the bottom of the trunk. 

"Dalton _would_ have been glad to get this, " he cried, with a nearapproach to delight. 

"Lock it up tight in your innermost pockets then, sir, " counseled TomHalstead. "The contents of that envelope must be what Dalton has comeback here for, or sent someone else for. And, until he gets it, hemust plan to keep Lonely Island out of touch with the whole world. We'll hear from him again to-night, I'm thinking. "

"Will we?" flared Mr. Seaton, stepping briskly across the room. Unlocking a cupboard door, he brought out a repeating shot-gun. Froman ammunition box he helped himself to several shells, fitting six ofthem into the magazine of the gun. 

"Buckshot talks, sometimes, " said the owner of the bungalow, morequietly. "I shall be awake to-night, and have this gun always withme. "

"Have you any other weapons, sir?" asked Tom. 

"Yes; a revolver--here it is. "

Powell Seaton held out the weapon, but Halstead shook his head. 

"Dr. Cosgrove is the one who'll want that, since he must stay by Mr. Clodis to-night. And, see here, Mr. Seaton, impress upon the doctorthat he mustn't take a nap, even for a moment. As for you, you'll wantto be watching the house in general. "

"Why, where will you young men be?" inquired Mr. Seaton. 

"We couldn't stay indoors, with our boat gone, sir, " Tom answered. "The first thing we must do is to explore all around the island. Evenif we don't get a sign of the 'Restless, ' we may find out somethingelse. We may be able to catch someone trying to land on this islandlater to-night. "

"Yes; it will be best to have guards outside roaming about theisland, " admitted Powell Seaton, readily. Then, lowering his voice ashe signed to the Motor Boat Club boys to draw closer to him, Mr. Seaton added:

"Something, of some nature, _will_ be attempted to-night. There is noother sound explanation of the crippling of the wireless and thestealing of the boat. So be vigilant, boys--as I shall also be whileyou're gone. "

Hank helped himself to a fresh club--a stouter one than that which hehad broken over the snubbing post at the dock. Then out into the blacknight fared the three Motor Boat Club boys. 

"Shall we keep together, or spread?" asked Joe Dawson. 

"Together, " nodded Tom Halstead. "If there are prowlers about, wecan't tell how soon three of us may be even too few. Remember, we haveonly firewood to fight with, and we don't know what kind of men we mayrun up against. "

So Tom led his friends down to a point but little south of the dock. From here, following the shore, they started to prowl slowly aroundLonely Island, all the while keeping a sharp watch to seaward. 

"If the boat is in any waters near at hand we ought to get some signof her whereabouts by keeping a sharp enough watch, " Tom advised hiscomrades. "They can't sail or handle the boat without the occasionaluse of a light in the motor room. The gleam of a lantern across thewater may be enough to give us an idea where she is. "

Peering off into the blackness of the night, this seemed like rather aforlorn hope. 

"If whoever has stolen the boat intends to land later to-night, "hinted Joe, "it's much more likely that the thieves are, at thismoment, a good, biggish distance away, so as not to give us any clewto their intentions. "

In the course of twenty minutes the Motor Boat Club boys had madetheir way around to the southern end of the island. 

Somewhat more than a mile to the southward lay a small, unnamedisland. It was uninhabited, and too sandy to be of value to planters. Yet it had one good cove of rather deep water. 

Tom halted, staring long and hard in the direction where he knew thislittle spot on the ocean to stand. It was too black a night for anyglimpse of the island to be had against the sky. 

"That would be a good enough place for our pirates to have taken the'Restless, '" he muttered, to his comrades. 

"If we only had a boat, we could know, bye-and-bye, " muttered Hank, discontentedly. 

"We have been known to swim further than that, " said Joe, quietly. 

"But never in such a sea as is running to-night, " sighed Tom Halstead. "Even as the water is, I'd like to chance it, but I'm afraid it wouldbe useless. And it would leave Mr. Seaton and the doctor alone againstany surprise. "

"I'd swim that far, or drown, even in this sea, " muttered Dawson, vengefully, "if I had any idea that our boat lay over that way. "

For two or three minutes the boys stood there, talking. Not once didTom Halstead turn his eyes away from the direction of the island tothe southward. 

"Look there!" the young skipper finally uttered, clutching at Joe'selbow. "Did you see that?"

"Yes, " voiced Joe, in instant excitement. 

"That" was a tiny glow of light, made small by the distance. 

"It's a lantern, being carried by someone, " continued Captain Tom, after a breathless pause. "There--it vanishes! Oh, I say--gracious!"

Joe, too, gave a gasp. 

As for Hank Butts, that youth commenced to breathe so hard that therewas almost a rattle to his respiration. 

Immediately following the disappearance of the distant light, foursmaller, dimmer lights appeared, in a row. 

"That's the same light, showing through the four starboard ports ofthe motor room, " trembled Joe Dawson. "Starboard, because the lanternwas carried forward, before it disappeared briefly in the hatchway ofthe motor room. "

"That's our boat--there isn't a single doubt of it, " cried TomHalstead, enthusiastically. "And now--oh, fellows! We've simply got toswim over there, rough sea or smooth sea. We've got to get our ownboat back unless the heavens fall on us on the way over!"

"Humph! What are we going to do, " demanded Hank Butts, "if we find agang aboard that we can't whip or bluff?"

"That, " spoke Captain Tom, softly, "will have to be decided after weget there. But swim over there we must, since there isn't anything onthis island that even looks like a boat. See here, Joe, you and Hanktrot up to the bungalow and tell Mr. Seaton what we've seen. The'Restless' is at anchor in the cove yonder. There are plenty of logsup at the bungalow. Come back with one big enough to buoy us up in thewater, yet not so big but what we can steer it while swimming. Andbring with it a few lengths of that quarter-inch cord from the dynamoroom. Don't be too long, will you, fellows?"

After Joe and Hank had departed, Tom Halstead watched the lightshining behind the four distant ports until it disappeared. Then helooked at the waves long and wonderingly. 

"It's a big chance to take. I don't know whether we can ever get outthere in a sea like this, " he muttered. "Yet, what wouldn't I do toget control of our own boat again? Our own boat--the good old'Restless'! Joe isn't saying much of anything; he never does, but Iknow how he feels over the stealing of the boat and the chance thatbunglers may leave her on the rocks somewhere along this coast!"

A few minutes passed. Then the young skipper heard hurrying footsteps. Joe and Hank hove into sight out of the deep gloom, bearing aneight-foot log on their shoulders. 

"Good enough, " nodded Halstead, eyeing the log approvingly. "Now, wadeinto the water with it, and let's see whether it will buoy us all upat need. "

All three waded out with the log, until they were in nearly up totheir shoulders. 

"Now, hang to it, and see if it will hold us up, " commanded CaptainTom Halstead. 

The log bore them up, but the crest of a big wave, rolling in, hurledthem back upon the beach. Tom dragged the log up onto dry ground. 

"Now, first of all, let's lash our clubs to the log, " suggested theyoung skipper. This was soon accomplished. Then each of the Motor BoatClub boys made a medium length of the cord fast around his chest, under the arm-pits. 

"The next trick, " proposed Halstead, "is to make the other end fast tothe log, allowing just length enough so that you can swim well clearof the log itself, and yet be able to haul yourselves back to the login case you find your strength giving out. "

This took some calculation, but at last the three motor boat boysdecided that eight feet of line was the proper length. This decided, and accomplished, they carried the log down into the water, and pushedresolutely off into the blackness. 

Even Tom Halstead, who allowed himself few doubts, little believedthat they could accomplish this long, dangerous swimming cruise over arough sea. 

CHAPTER V

TOM MATCHES ONE TRICK WITH ANOTHER

At the outset Joe swam at the rear, frequently giving a light push tosend the log riding ahead. Tom and Hank swam on either side, half-towing the timber that was to be their buoy when needed. 

All three, reared at the edge of salt water, as they had been, werestrong, splendid swimmers. This night, however, with the rough waves, the feat was especially dangerous. 

"Swim the way a fellow does when he knows he's really _got_ to, " wasthe young skipper's terse advice as they started. 

It became a contest of endurance. Tom and Joe, the two Maine boys, were doggedly determined to reach their boat or perish in the attempt. Hank Butts, the Long Island boy, though perhaps possessing less finecourage than either of his comrades, had a rough way of treatingdanger as a joke. This may have been a pretense, yet in times of perilit passed well enough for grit. 

Any one of the three could have swum a mile readily on a lightlyrolling sea, but to-night the feat was a vastly sterner one. Hank wasthe first to give out, after going a little more than an eighth ofthe distance. He swam to the log, throwing his right arm over it andholding on while the two Maine boys pushed and towed it. Finally, whenyoung Butts had broken away to swim, Joe closed in, holding to the logfor a while. At last it came even doughty Tom Halstead's turn to seekthis aid to buoyancy. 

Nor had they covered half the distance, in all, when all three foundthemselves obliged to hold to the log, as it rolled and plunged, riding the waves. Worst of all, despite their exertions, all three nowfound their teeth chattering. 

"Say, it begins to look like a crazy undertaking, " declared Hank, withblunt candor. "Can we possibly make it?"

"We've got to, " retorted Tom Halstead, his will power unshaken. 

"I don't see the light over there any more, " observed Hank, speakingthe words in jerks of one syllable, so intense was the shaking of hisjaws. 

"Maybe the boat isn't over yonder any longer, " admitted Captain Tom, "but we've got to chance it. And say, we'd better shove off and try toswim again, to warm ourselves up. We're in danger of shaking ourselvesplum to pieces. "

There was another great peril, on which none of them had calculatedwell enough before starting. When they were clear of the log, swimming, it pitched so on the tops of the waves that it was likely, at any instant, to drive against the head of one of the swimmers andcrack his skull. 

"If we had known all this before we started----" began Hank, the nexttime the three swimmers were driven to cling, briefly, to theirmovable buoy. 

"We'd have started just the same, " retorted Tom, as stiffly as hischattering teeth would let him speak. 

"Humph!" muttered Hank, unbelievingly. "It's a fool's dream, this kindof a swim. "

"It's less work to go ahead than to turn back, now, " broke in Joe, histeeth accompanying his words with the clatter of castanets. 

"No; the wind and tide would be with us going back, " objected Butts. "We could almost drift back. "

"And die of chills on the way, " contended Tom, doggedly. "No, sir!We've got to go ahead. I'm swimming to the tune of thoughts of thegalley fire aboard the 'Restless'!"

"Br-r-r!" shook Hank, as the three cast loose from the log once moreand struck out, panting, yet too cold to stay idle any longer. 

It was tantalizing enough. The longer they swam, the more the boysbegan to believe that the island they sought was retreating frombefore them. Hank was almost certain they were moving in a circle, but Halstead, with a keen sense of location, insisted that they weregoing straight, even if very slowly, to the nameless island. 

"I see it, " breathed the young skipper, exultantly, at last. 

"What--the island?" bellowed Hank Butts. 

"No; but I'd swear I saw the 'Restless' the last time we rode a highwave, " Halstead shouted back. 

Ten minutes afterwards all three of the Motor Boat Club boys caughtoccasional glimpses of something dark and vague that they believed tobe the hull of their yacht. The belief gave them renewed courage. EvenHank no longer had any desire to turn back. His whole thought centeredon the lively times that were likely to begin when they tried toregain control of their boat from whomever had stolen it. 

Then, bit by bit the trio worked their log buoy into the cove. Oncethey were inside, the water was very much smoother. Resting a fewmoments for breath, they then made a last dash forward, to getalongside. 

In this smoother, more shallow water, the "Restless" rode securely atanchor. As they swam closer, the boys found that they could discoverno human presence on the decks. Had the boat-stealers gone ashore onthe nameless island? If so, it would be a comparatively easy matter toget aboard and cut out of the cove with their own craft. 

Close up alongside they went. Tom Halstead was the first to be able toreach up at the hull and draw himself up over the side. Then, with hispocket-knife, as he lay at the rail of the "Restless, " the youngskipper slashed the cord that still held him bound to the log. Reaching over, he passed the knife to Hank. In utter silence the LongIsland boy cut the clubs free, and passed them up. Next Hank drewhimself aboard, after passing the jackknife to Joe Dawson. 

Just a little later all three of the Motor Boat Club boys foundthemselves standing on the deck, each grasping his own firewoodweapon. They made no noise, for they knew not who, or how many othersmight be on board below. If they had a desperate gang of thieves tocontend with, then their troubles had not yet even begun!

Joe and Hank stood where they were, shaking as though in the lastditch of ague, while Halstead went forward, with the soft tread of acat, to peer down into the motor room, the hatchway of which stoodopen. 

"Wonder if there's anyone down there, asleep, or playing possum?"thought the young skipper as he peered into the blackness andlistened. No sound of any kind came up to him. At last, a short stepat a time, Halstead descended into the motor room, groping cautiouslyabout. Finally, he became confident enough to feel in the galleymatch-box, extract a match and light it. The tiny flame showed himthat the motor room was empty of human presence other than his own. 

"No one down forward, " he reported, in a shaking whisper, when herejoined his chilled companions on deck. 

"I believe there are plenty of folks in the cabin, though, " reportedJoe. "They've drawn the port-hole and transom curtains, but they'vegot a hidden light down there, and I can hear voices. "

"Wait a moment, then, " said Captain Tom, apprehensively. "I've anidea. "

He crept back into the motor room, again striking a match. By the aidof this feeble light he found his way to the passageway that connectedthe motor room and the cabin under the bridge deck. After a briefinspection he hurried back to his comrades. 

"The passage door is padlocked on the motor room side, " he whispered. "Our pirates had no key to unlock that with. Now, can you walk thedeck as though your shoes were soled with loose cotton?"

"Yes, " grumbled Hank, disjointedly, "but the snare-drum solo my teethare doing may make noise enough to give me away. "

"Cram your handkerchief between your teeth, " retorted Captain Tom, practically. "Come along, fellows. But hold your clubs ready in caseyour feet betray you. "

Stealing along, each holding to the edge of the deck house with onehand, the motor boat boys approached the after hatchway. This, evidently for purposes of ventilation, had been left partly open. 

Nudging his comrades to pause, Joe, bending so low as to be almostflat on the deck, prowled further aft. 

There, in the darkness, he used his eyes to find out what might bedown in the cabin. Then he came back. 

"Eight tough-looking men in the cabin, " he whispered, in TomHalstead's ear. 

"Is Anson Dalton one of them?"

"Yep. "

"Hurrah! Then we've bagged him, at last!"

"Have we, though?" muttered Joe Dawson, dubiously. 

"Well, we're going to, " declared Tom, radiantly. "My boy, we're goingto cut out of this cove with, the whole crew held in down there. "

"Hope so, " assented Joe, not very enthusiastically. 

"Why, we've got to, " argued Halstead. "If we don't, then that crewwould have the upper hand, instead, and make penny jumping-jacks of usuntil they saw fit to let us go. But wait a moment. I must get backand have a look at them. "

This time it was the young skipper who crawled aft. Joe and Hankfollowed part of the way, holding their sticks in readiness in caseDalton and his men discovered their presence. 

"I reckon, Cap, you'll find you've got the right crowd for to-night'swork, " a rough voice was declaring, as Halstead came within earrange. 

"Now, don't you men misunderstand me, " replied Anson Dalton in asmooth yet firm voice. "I'm not paying you for any piratical acts. Ihave to give a little heed to the laws of the land, even if youfellows don't. What I want is this: At about two in the morning, when, most likely, everyone will be asleep except the one who is nursing thefellow Clodis, it is my plan to run in at Lonely Island's dock. We'llget quietly up to the house, suddenly force the door, and rush in. But, mind you all, there's to be no riot. Your numbers, and yourrough appearance, will be enough to scare the folks of the bungalow. The two of you that I've already picked out will rush in with astateroom door and one of the stateroom mattresses. With this for astretcher, you two will get Clodis carefully and gently down to thisboat. Then we'll sail away, and I'll tell you what to do next. Butremember, no violent assault on anyone--no lawlessness, no hurtinganyone badly. Trust to your numbers and suddenness. There's somebaggage, too, in the bungalow, that I mean to bring away with me. I'llmake off with it in the confusion. "

"Oh, will you?" wondered Captain Tom Halstead, his jaw settlingsquarely. 

Then, tiptoeing softly over to where Hank waited, the young skipperwhispered something in that youth's ear. Hank fled quietly forward, but returned with a snap-padlock, the ring of which was open. Withthis in his hands Tom stole back aft, this time going close, indeed, to the hatchway. 

"Hey! Someone on deck, " roared an excited voice below. 

There was an instant babel of voices, a rushing of feet and a generalrumpus below. Two men in the van raced for the hatchway. 

Slam! snap! click! Tom Halstead swung the hatchway door shut, forcedthe stout hasp over the staple and fastened the padlock in place!

CHAPTER VI

CARRYING DANGEROUS LIVE "FREIGHT"

"Cooped!" chuckled Joe Dawson, jubilantly. 

Yet his voice could not much more than be heard above the racket thatsounded below. Anson Dalton and his seven rough men were raising ahubbub, indeed. 

"Smash the door down!" roared Dalton. 

"Maybe we kin do it, boss, but the hatch is a stout one, and we ain'tjest 'zactly fixed for tools, " replied another voice. 

After a few moments the fruitless hammering with mere fists subsided. In that time Hank Butts had raced forward, and now was back again witha prize that he had caught up from a locker near the motors. This wasnothing more nor less than the hitching weight that Hank had once madevery nearly famous, as described in the preceding volume, "THE MOTORBOAT CLUB OFF LONG ISLAND. "

"Let 'em get out if they can, " advised Hank, grimly. "This for thefeet, or the head, of the first roustabout that shows himself!"

Joe now raced forward to set the motors in motion. Though the youngtrio had temporary command of the deck, there was no telling how soonthey would be overwhelmed. Every moment must be made to count. 

Captain Tom, grasping his stick, stood by to help Hank in case thefurious ones below succeeded in breaking out. 

Hardly any time passed before the rhythmic chugging of the motors cameto the young skipper's delighted ears. Then Joe waved his arms as asignal from the raised deck forward. Halstead swiftly joined his chum. Together they got the anchor up, stowing it well enough for thepresent. 

"Now, you'd better get back to Hank, hadn't you?" quivered Joe. "I canhandle speed and the wheel, too. "

"Bless you, old Joe!" murmured Captain Tom, fervently, and raced aft. Dawson leaped to the wheel, at the same time setting one of the bridgecontrols so that the "Restless" began to move forward under slowspeed. This move came just in time, for, even in the cove, the waterhad motion enough to threaten the yacht with grounding. 

But now alert Joe Dawson swung the boat's head around, pointing hernose out of the cove. 

"Get that hatch down in a hurry!" sounded Anson Dalton's hoarsevoice, imperiously. "If you don't, we'll all be tight in a worse trapthan this. "

Blows with fists and feet resounded once more. Then, after aninstant's pause, came the slower, harder thump-thump which told thatone of the strongest of those caught below was using his shoulder, instead. Soon two cracks seamed the surface of the hatch door. 

"Good! Go at it hard!" encouraged the voice of Dalton. "Batter itdown. It will be worth money--and freedom--to you and to us all!"

"Yes, just clear a passage, and see what happens!" roared back TomHalstead, as soon as he could make his own voice heard distinctly. 

"Don't mind the talk of those boys!" warned Dalton, angrily, as therecame a pause in the shoulder assaults against the hatch. 

With a grin Hank raised his iron hitching weight above his head, hurling it down to the deck with crashing force. Then, still grinning, he stooped to pick it up again. 

That noisy thump on the deck timbers caused a brief ensuing silencedown in the cabin. It was plain that Dalton and his fellows werewondering just how dangerous their reception would be in case theysucceeded in breaking out. 

The cabin was lighted, in day time, by side ports and a barred transomoverhead. The ports were too small to permit of a man forcing his waythrough. Even though they broke the glass overhead, the prisoners inthe cabin would still have iron bars to overcome. Tom Halstead, withhis club, could hinder any work at that point. 

In the meantime, the "Restless, " once out of the cove, was boundingover the waves like a thing of life. Though the water had been hard toswim through, it did not present a rough sea for a fifty-five footpower boat. 

In less than three minutes Engineer Joe Dawson was sounding his autowhistle like mad as he neared the dock at Lonely Island. 

Just as the boat glided in, under decreased headway, to the dock thebungalow door was seen to open. Powell Seaton, shot-gun in hand, appeared on the porch. He watched, not knowing whether friend or foecommanded the "Restless. " Mr. Seaton, himself, was made to stand outbrightly in the middle of the searchlight ray that Joe turned uponhim, yet he could not see who was behind that light. 

Running the boat in, bow-on, Joe leaped ashore with the hawser. Makingfast only at the bow, he next raced up the board walk, shouting thenews to Mr. Seaton. The latter, with a hail of delight, darted towardthe dock, arriving barely behind Dawson. 

Down in the cabin the din of the men trying to escape had redoubled. Powell Seaton tramped hurriedly aft, while Tom and Joe fell in behindhim with heavy tread, to give the rascals below an idea that numerousreinforcements had arrived. 

Bang! Pausing before the hatch Mr. Seaton raised the shot-gun to hisshoulder, discharging a single shell. Hastily slipping one into themagazine of the weapon to replace the fired one, Seaton shoutedsternly:

"Stop your nonsense down there! If you get out it will be only to runinto the muzzles of fire-arms. You fellows are fairly caught!"

There was a startled silence, followed by indistinct mutterings. Noteven Anson Dalton, it appeared, cared to brave what looked like toocertain death. 

Tom held a whispered consultation with his employer, then stepped overto young Butts. 

"Hank, we're going to leave you on shore. Mr. Seaton will come alongwith the gun. Keep your eyes open--until you see us again! Don't becaught napping. Remember, you and Dr. Cosgrove have the wholeprotection of that helpless man, Clodis, _in_ your hands. "

Hank Butts made a wry face for a moment. He would have much preferredto see the present adventure through. Yet, a second later, the LongIsland boy bounded to the dock, then stood to cast off the bow-line. 

After the line had come aboard, Joe Dawson again took his place at thewheel, turning on the speed gradually as the boat rounded out past theisland, then turned in toward the mainland. 

It was about five miles, in a direct westerly course, to the shore, but by an oblique, northwesterly course a fishing village some ninemiles away could be reached. 

"Steer for the fishing village, " nodded Powell Seaton. Captain Tomhurried forward to give the order, adding: "Make it at full speed, Joe. If you have to go to the engine, call me forward to take thewheel. "

Soon afterwards Tom slipped into the motor room, rubbed down and goton dry clothing. Joe, in turn, did likewise, afterward returning tothe wheel. 

Down in the cabin all had been quiet for some minutes after thedischarge of the gun on deck. Yet Captain Tom, by peeping through thetransom, discovered the heads of Dalton and some of his rough menclose together in consultation. 

"I'll annoy them a bit, " chuckled the young skipper, moving swiftlyforward. Dropping down into the motor room he switched off all thecabin lights. An instant roar of anger came from below. 

"Funny we didn't think of that before, " grinned Dawson, as Halsteadcame up out of the motor room. 

"It'll bother the rascals a bit, " chuckled Captain Tom back over hisshoulder. 

With such a boat as the "Restless" ordinary distances are swiftlycovered. It was barely twenty-five minutes after leaving the dock thatJoe reached the entrance to the little harbor around which the housesof the fishing village clustered, nor had much speed been used. 

Now the whistle sounded steadily, in short, sharp blasts. Moreover, Dawson managed to send the distress signal with the searchlight. Bythe time he slowed down speed, then reversed, to make the littlewharf, a dozen men had hurried down to the shore. 

"What's wrong?" hailed one of them. 

"Get the sheriff, or a sheriff's officer!" shouted back Powell Seaton. "Be quick about it, one of you, please, and the rest of you stay hereto help us. "

Joe sent the bow hawser flying ashore, Tom doing the same with thestern line. Willing hands caught both ropes, making them fast aroundsnubbing posts. As two men started away on the run, the rest of thebystanders came crowding aboard, filled with curiosity. 

"What happens to be wrong on board?" demanded one bronzed fisherman. 

"We've a cabin full of pirates, or rascals about as bad, " returned Mr. Seaton, grimly. 

"Men of this coast?" asked another speaker. 

"Yes, evidently, " nodded Mr. Seaton, whom the new-comers hadrecognized as the owner of Lonely Island. 

"Then they must be the crew of the 'Black Betty, '" commented the firstspeaker. 

"Is that a black, fifty-foot schooner, low in the water, narrow andcarrying tall masts with a heavy spread of canvas?" interposed TomHalstead. 

"Yes, " nodded the fisherman. "That's the 'Black Betty. ' She claims tobe a fishing boat, but we're ready to bet she's a smuggler. Shecarries nine men, including Captain Dave Lemly. "

"I reckon we've got most of the 'Black Betty' outfit below, then, "declared Captain Halstead. "Or else--gracious!"

For, at that moment, the cracked hatch gave in with a smash. PowellSeaton had neglected to remain on guard closely. There was a surge ofthe prisoners below. 

"Halstead, you'll hear from me again--and so will your crew!" shoutedAnson Dalton out of the press of struggling men that formed on theafter deck. "I won't let you forget me, Halstead!"

There was a splash past the rail. Dalton had gone overboard, followedby two of his companions. 

CHAPTER VII

POWELL SEATON'S BAD CASE OF "FORGET"

"Don't let any more get away!" called Powell Seaton, excitedly. 

Tom Halstead promptly leaped at one of the rough fugitives just as thelatter was trying to reach the wharf. Another one Joe Dawson grabbed. Several of the fishermen sprang to help. For a minute or two there wasa good deal of confusion. When matters quieted down, it was found thatHalstead and Dawson, with the fishermen helping, had secured five ofthe rough lot. 

Powell Seaton, by threatening with his shot-gun, had induced a sixthto swim ashore. But Anson Dalton and another man, believed to beCaptain Dave Lemly of the "Black Betty, " had escaped, swimming underwater in the darkness. They must have come to the surface at somepoint not far away, yet, in the black darkness of the night, theymanaged to escape safely for the time being, at any rate. 

The six men thus arrested were forced inside a ring of the fishermen, whose numbers had been greatly increased by new arrivals. PowellSeaton, his shot-gun on his shoulder, now patrolled close to the humanring. Three or four men hurried with Tom and Joe on a quest for AnsonDalton and the latter's companion in flight. 

In less than a quarter of an hour one of the messengers who had firsthurried away returned with a deputy sheriff, who brought several pairsof handcuffs. A justice of the peace was aroused at his home, and heldthe prisoners over for trial, after Powell Seaton had preferredagainst them a charge of stealing the yacht that was under hischarter. 

The search for Dalton and his companion was given up, for it becameplain that both had succeeded in their effort to get away. 

"It's altogether too bad, " sighed Mr. Seaton, on coming out of thejustice's house. "However, we can be thankful for what success we havehad. We have the boat back and have balked Dalton's rascals in whatthey were planning for to-night. "

"Are you going back to Lonely Island now, sir?" asked Captain Tom. 

"We must, very soon, " replied Mr. Seaton. "Yet, Halstead, I've beenthinking that I cannot afford to take any further chances, with AnsonDalton still at large. These fishermen are a rough but honest lot ofsplendid fellows in their way. I'm going to see if I can't hire aspecial guard of eight men for Lonely Island for the present. I'llengage the deputy sheriff to vouch for the men I engage. So go down tothe boat and be ready for me as soon as I arrive. "

Joe was aboard, waiting, when the young skipper returned. Several ofthe men of the village were still about the dock. 

"We're to be ready to cast off as soon as Mr. Seaton gets here, Joe, "Captain Tom Halstead announced. "Better look to your motors. If youwant any help, call on me. "

It did not take Mr. Seaton very long to recruit the guard of eight menthat he wanted. Carrying rifles or shot-guns, borrowed in someinstances, the men tramped along after their new employer. They cameaboard, two or three of them going below, the others preferring toremain on deck. 

"Cast off, Captain, as soon as you can, " directed Powell Seaton. 

Two or three of the new guards sprang forward to help in this work. Halstead rang for half speed, then threw the wheel over, making aquick start. Once under way, he called for full speed, and the"Restless" went bounding over the waves, which were running much lowerthan a couple of hours earlier. 

During the first half of the run Captain Halstead remained at thewheel. Then Joe came up from below, relieving him. Tom strolled backto take a seat on the deck-house beside Mr. Seaton. 

"I'm on tenterhooks to get back, " confessed the charter-man. 

"Anxious about your friend, Clodis, of course, " nodded Tom, understandingly. 

"Partly that, yes. But there's another matter that's bothering mefearfully, too. You remember the packet of papers I took from Clodis'strunk?" asked Mr. Seaton, lowering his voice. 

"Yes, " murmured Tom. "But you have those in an inner pocket. "

"I wish I had!" uttered Powell Seaton. "Halstead, the truth is, afteryou young men went out, this evening, to patrol about the island, Ibecame a little uneasy about that packet, and took it out and hidit--under some boxes of ammunition in the cupboard where I keep mygun. Then I locked the closet door. When Dawson called me from theporch, in such haste, and I was needed on board with my gun, I cleanforgot the packet for the instant. "

"Oh, it will be safe, anyway, " Tom assured his employer. "Even ifDalton had been able to get a boat at once, in this neighborhood, there's no other craft in these waters capable of reaching LonelyIsland earlier than we shall do it. "

"I _do_ hope that packet is safe, " muttered Mr. Seaton, in a voicetense with anxiety. "Halstead, you've no notion of the fearful blow itwould be to friends and to myself to have it disappear. "

Hearing a slight noise on the opposite side of the deck-house top, Seaton and Tom Halstead turned together. They were just in time to seeone of the new guards leaning toward them, one hand out as though tosteady himself. 

"It's rough footing on deck to-night, " said the guard, with a pleasantlaugh, then passed on aft. 

Tom took the helm again as the "Restless, " after picking up thelanding place with the searchlight, moved into the harbor and went toher berth. 

Powell Seaton led all of his guards but one up to the bungalow. Theeighth man, armed with a rifle, was left aboard the "Restless, " withthe searchlight turned on, ready for use at any moment. Tom and Joewent up to the bungalow with their employer. 

"Wait out on the porch for just a little while, " called Mr. Seaton, ina low voice. "And be careful to make no noise that will disturb thesick man. "

Five minutes later Mr. Seaton returned to the porch. 

"I've been looking for that packet, " he whispered to the youngskipper. "It's safe, so I've left it in the same place. "

Then, after a moment, the owner of the bungalow added:

"Captain, you can have your friend, Butts, now, as we can do withouthim in the house. I think you three had better turn in on the boat andget some sleep. Then, soon after daylight, I can have the guard at thewharf rouse you, for I want you to go over to Beaufort and getsupplies for repairing the wireless outfit at the earliest hour. Things are likely to happen soon that will make it dangerous for me tobe without wireless communication with land and sea. "

Twenty minutes later the three Motor Boat Club boys were stretched outin their berths in the motor room. It was considerably later, though, ere sleep came to them. When slumber did reach their eyes they sleptsoundly until called by the guard. 

Hank prepared a breakfast in record time. After eating this, and afterHank had been sent up to the house to learn whether there were anyfurther orders, the Motor Boat Club boys were ready to cast off. 

Once they were under way, Hank, not being needed, went aft to stretchhimself on one of the cabin cushions. Joe, having his motors runningsmoothly, followed Hank into the cabin. Dawson, however, did not seekfurther sleep. He wanted to make a more thorough test than he had donea few hours before, in order to make sure that the vandals locked inthere the night before had not thought to destroy his beloved wirelessinstruments or connections. 

"The whole wireless plant is in shape for instant use, " he reported, coming back at last to the bridge deck. 

"That's mighty good news, " declared Tom Halstead. "With the man we areworking for now we're likely to need the wireless at any minute in thetwenty-four hours. "

"Say, " ejaculated Joe, after a few moments of silent thought, "there'ssomething hugely mysterious and uncanny back of all these doings ofless than twenty-four hours. I wonder what that big mystery reallyis?"

CHAPTER VIII

THE RED MESSAGE

When the boys reached Beaufort and had tied up at a wharf, it wasstill too early to expect to find any shops open. They left Hank onwatch, however, and went up into the town, Joe to look, presently, fora dealer in electrical supplies, while Captain Tom sought a ship'sjoiner to fit and hang a new hatch to replace that smashed in theaffair of the night before. Both boys were presently successful, though it was noon before the joiner had his task finished. 

While the last of the work on the new hatch was being done, Tom andJoe went once more uptown to get a message from Mr. Seaton's attorneyregarding the date when the formal hearing of the men arrested thenight before would take place in court. Hank Butts was left to watchover the boat and keep an eye over the joiner. 

"Any strangers around here?" queried the young skipper, after thejoiner, his work completed, had gone aboard. 

"Only a young black boy, " Hank replied. "He seemed curious to lookover the boat, but he didn't offer to go below, or touch anything, soI didn't chase him off. "

"Cast off, Hank. Give us some power, Joe, and we'll get back to LonelyIsland, " declared the young captain, going to the wheel. 

Hardly more than a minute later the "Restless" was gliding out of theharbor. 

"Guess Hank's young negro visitor left a note, " called up Joe, showingin the doorway of the motor room and holding forth a note. Hank tookit, passing it to Halstead. 

"Mind the wheel a minute, Hank, please, " requested Tom, lookingclosely at the envelope. 

It was addressed only to "Halstead, " the writing being in red, andthick, as though laid on with the point of a stick. The message on thesheet inside was crisp and to the point. It ran:

 If you think your doings have been forgotten, you'll soon know differently!

"Humph!" muttered Joe, following up, and taking the sheet as his chumheld it out. "That must be from Anson Dalton. "

"Or Captain Dave Lemly, of the 'Black Betty, '" returned Tom, without atrace of concern in his tone. 

"It's a threat, all right, " muttered Hank Butts, his hair bristlingwhen the sheet came into his hands. "Confound 'em, I hope whoeversent this tries to make good--when we're looking!"

Just then Captain Tom changed the course abruptly, the bows of the"Restless" sending up a shower of spray that sprinkled Hank from headto foot. As he turned to get out of the way the wind caught the sheetwritten in red from his hand, blowing it out across the water. 

"Let it go, " laughed Tom. "We know all the red message had to say. "

"The negro that I allowed on deck came on purpose to drop the notewhere it would be found, " muttered Hank. 

"No matter, " smiled Tom. "We're always glad to know that we'reremembered by nice people. "

"I'd like to have that black boy here for a minute or two, " gruntedHank, clenching his fists. 

"What for?" Tom Halstead queried. "He probably didn't have any guiltyknowledge about the sender. "

"That reminds me, " broke in Joe. "Stand close by the motors a fewminutes, will you, Hank?"

With that Dawson vanished aft. When he came back he announced:

"I've just flashed the wireless word back to Mr. Seaton's lawyer aboutthe message we got, advising the lawyer that it probably showsDalton, or Lemly, or both, to be in Beaufort. And the lawyer was ableto send me news, received just after we left. "

"What?"

"The schooner, 'Black Betty, ' has just been seized, thirty miles downthe coast, by United States officers. She'll be held until the customsmen have had a chance to look into the charges that the schooner hasbeen used in the smuggling trade. "

"Was Lemly caught with her?" asked Tom, eagerly. 

"No such luck, " retorted Joe. 

"I'd feel better over hearing that Dave Lemly was the prisoner of theUnited States Government, " remarked young Halstead. "If he keeps atliberty _he_ is the one who is going to be able to make Anson Daltondangerous to us. "

"Then you're beginning to be afraid of that pair, are you?" asked JoeDawson, looking up. 

"No, I'm not, " rejoined Tom Halstead, his jaws firmly set. "A man--ora boy, either for that matter--who can be made afraid of other peopleisn't fit to be trusted with the command of a boat on the high seas. But I'll say this much about my belief concerning Dalton: For somereason we've been in his way, and are likely to be much more in hisway before we're through with him. If Dalton got a chance, he wouldn'thesitate to wreck the 'Restless, ' or to blow her up. For any work ofthat sort Dave Lemly is undoubtedly his man. "

"What can make them so desperate against Mr. Seaton?" queried Joe. 

"We can't even guess, for we don't yet know the story that's behindall this mystery and the list of desperate deeds. "

"I wonder if Mr. Seaton will ever tell us?" pondered Joe. 

"Not unless he thinks we really need to know. "

"But he has already hinted that it's all in a big fight for afortune, " urged Hank. 

"Yes, and we can guess that the fight centers in South America, sincethat is where Clodis was bound for when this business started, "replied Skipper Tom. 

"I wonder if there's any chance that our cruise will reach to SouthAmerica?" broke in Hank Butts, eagerly. 

"Hardly likely, " replied Tom, with a shake of the head. "If there hadbeen even a chance of that, Mr. Seaton would have arranged for anoption extending beyond the end of this month. "

"Just my luck, " grumbled Hank, seating himself on the edge of thedeck-house. "Nothing big ever happens to me. "

"Say, you're hard to please, " laughed Joe, turning and going down intothe motor room. 

They were not long in making Lonely Island, where the "Restless" wastied up and the hatchways locked securely. The boys were not requiredto remain at the boat, one of the guards being stationed, night orday, at the wharf. 

Powell Seaton was much interested in the account Tom gave him of thered message, though he did not say much. 

There was no change or improvement in the condition of Mr. Clodis, whostill lay in a darkened room, like one dead. 

That afternoon Joe, with some help from his comrades, repaired thebungalow's wireless plant and got in touch with the shore once more. 

Through the night four men were kept on guard, one on the porch, another at the wharf, and two others patrolling the island. No attemptof any sort on the part of Dalton or the latter's confederates wasdiscovered. 

The next morning brought still no change in the condition of Clodis. He was alive, breathing feebly, and Dr. Cosgrove was attempting toward off an attack of brain fever. 

Through the forenoon Joe was kept rather busy sending messages ashoreto the authorities, for Powell Seaton, though not leaving the island, was waging a determined campaign to get hold of Dalton. 

"I don't need Dalton, particularly, " confessed Mr. Seaton, as he satwith the three motor boat boys at the noon meal. "But it would beworth a very great deal of money to get back the papers that Daltonmust have stolen after assaulting my sick friend, yonder, on board the'Constant. '"

"Do you--do you know--what was in the stolen papers?" asked CaptainTom Halstead, hesitatingly. 

"Very well, indeed, " rejoined their employer, with emphasis. "But thereal trouble is that I don't want to have that knowledge pass to thegang that are behind Anson Dalton. "

"Yet Dalton must have had time to join his principals, orconfederates, by this time, and turn the papers over to them, "hazarded Halstead. 

"That's hardly likely, " murmured Powell Seaton, "since the gang ofrascals behind Anson Dalton must be, at this moment, somewhere in theinterior of Brazil. "

"Oh!" said Tom, reflectively. 

"You're curious, I see, to know what all this great mystery means, "smiled Mr. Seaton. 

"I--I don't want to let myself be curious about what is none of mybusiness, " declared Tom Halstead, bluntly. 

"I'm going to tell you the story now, just the same, " replied PowellSeaton, in a still lower voice. 

CHAPTER IX

MR. SEATON UNBURDENS HIMSELF

"Really, I see no reason why I shouldn't tell you, " went on thecharter-man of the "Restless. " "When I first engaged you youngstersand your boat for this month I had little more in mind than using yourboat for pleasure cruising about here. Yet the fact that you had awireless equipment aboard the 'Restless' _did_ influence me not alittle, for I had at least a suspicion that big affairs might come topass, and that telegraphing from ship to ship might be wonderfullyconvenient. 

"At the same time, I was careful to look up the references that yougave me, Captain Halstead. Those references were so whollysatisfactory that I know I can trust you to serve me as bravely andloyally as you have, in the past, been called upon to serve others. And now, just for the reason that you may be called upon to take somebig fighting chances for me, I'm going to tell you what lies back ofthe curtain of mystery that you've been staring at. "

As his voice died out Powell Seaton arose, locked the door and glancedout through the windows. Then he returned to the table, motioning tothe boys to incline their heads close to his. 

"Probably, " began their host, "you've regarded me as a wealthy man, and, until the last two or three days, as one of leisure. I amreasonably well-to-do in this world's goods, but most of my life, since I was twenty, has been passed in storm and stress. 

"It is not necessary to tell you all about the life that I have led. It will be enough to tell you that, three years ago, not satisfiedthat my fortune was large enough, I went to Brazil in order to learnwhat chance there might be of picking up money fast in that country. 

"In Brazil there are many ways of making a fortune, though perhaps notas many as right here at home. However, there are fewerfortune-seekers there. In coffee, rubber and in many other staplesfortunes may be made in Brazil, but the biggest, wildest, mostdesperate and scrambling gamble of all is found in the diamond-diggingfields. 

"Most of the diamond fields have, perhaps, been discovered, and theirworking has become systematized to a regular, dividend-paying basis. There are still, however, some fields not yet located. It was a smallfield, but one which I believe may be worth millions, that I locatedsomewhat more than a year ago. See here!"

From an inner pocket Powell Seaton drew forth an ordinary wallet. Opening it, he dropped out on the table six diamonds. Though none wasof great size, all of the stones were of such purity and such flashingbrilliancy that the motor boat boys gazed at them in fascination. 

"They must be worth a fortune, " declared Hank Butts, in an awed, subdued tone. 

"Not exactly, " smiled Mr. Seaton. "These stones have been appraised, Ibelieve, at about twelve thousand dollars. "

After passing the gems from hand to hand, the owner of the bungalowreplaced them in the wallet, returning the latter to the same pocketbefore he resumed:

"This new diamond field, a patent to which has not yet been filed withthe Brazilian Government, is in the state of Vahia. There is no harmin telling anyone that, as Vahia is a state of great area. It is in asection little likely to be suspected as a diamond field, and thechance that someone else will accidentally discover and locate it isnot large. "

"Yet you know the exact location--can go right to it?" breathed TomHalstead, his eyes turned squarely on Mr. Seaton's. 

"Yes, but I don't dare go to it, " came the smiling answer. 

"Oh! May I ask why not, sir?"

"The Government of Brazil is, in the main, an honest one, " repliedPowell Seaton. "The President of that country is an exactly just andhonorable man. Yet not quite as much can be said for the governmentsof _some_ of the states of that country. The governor of Vahia, Terrero, by name, is probably one of the worst little despots in SouthAmerica. 

"Now, as it happened, before I came to know anything about this newdiamond field I had the bad fortune to make an enemy of GovernorTerrero. Some American friends were being shamefully treated by thisrascally governor, and I felt called upon to become mixed up in theaffair. I even went so far that I incurred the deadly hatred ofTerrero. It was right after this that I came upon my diamond field. But Terrero's enmity was pressing upon me, and I had to flee fromBrazil. "

"Why?" asked Tom, wonderingly. 

"Do you know how things are done in South America?" demanded PowellSeaton, impressively. "If a man like Terrero hates you, he has onlyto inspire someone to prefer a serious charge against you. The chargemay be wholly false, of course, but officers and soldiers are sent, inthe dead of the night, to arrest you. These wretches, when they servewicked enough officials, shoot you down in cold blood. Then they laybeside your body a revolver in which are two or three dischargedcartridges. They report, officially, that you resisted arrest and didyour best to kill the members of the arresting party. This infamouslie all becomes a matter of official record. Then what can the UnitedStates Government do about it? And the governor, or other rascallyofficial, has triumphed over you, and the matter is closed. Though anhonest man, Halstead, you are officially a desperate character who_had_ to be killed by the law's servants. It was such a fate thatTerrero was preparing for me, but I escaped his wicked designs. "

"That must be a nice country!" murmured Hank Butts. 

"Yet you say the President of Brazil is an honorable man?" askedHalstead. "Can't he remove such a governor?"

"The President would, in a moment, if he could be supplied withproofs, " rejoined Powell Seaton, with emphasis. "Governor Terrero is awily, smooth scoundrel who is well served by men of his own choicestamp. Terrero is wealthy, and backed by many other wealthy men whohave been growing rich in the diamond fields. In fact, though they arewonderfully smooth about it, the Terrero gang are terrors to allhonest diamond men in that one part of Brazil. "

"So, then, " hinted Captain Tom, "you know where to find one of therich diamond mines of the world, but you don't dare go to it?"

"I'd dare, " retorted Mr. Seaton, his eyes flashing. "But what would bethe use of daring? I am almost certain to be killed if I ever show myface in Vahia while Terrero is alive. So, then, this is what I havedone: Since my return to this country I have been arranging, ever soquietly, with moneyed men who have faith in me and in my honesty. After much dickering we have arranged a syndicate that is backed bymillions of dollars, if need be. And we may need to spend a good dealof money before we get through. We may even have to try to turnTerrero's most trusted lieutenants against him. We won't, if we canhelp it, but we may have to. The stake is a big one!

"Through turning this business over to the syndicate I am bound tolose the greater portion of the fortune that might have been mine fromthis great enterprise. Yet, even as it is, I stand to reap richreturns if ever the syndicate can locate and secure the patent to thediamond fields that I discovered. 

"At this moment three members of our syndicate are in Rio Janeiro. They are big, solid American men of moneyed affairs. As far as theypermit to be known, they are in Brazil only as a matter of vacationand pleasure. In truth, they are awaiting the arrival of Albert Clodison the 'Constant. ' When he had arrived, with the papers from meshowing where and how to locate the diamond field, they were to havemoved quickly, spending plenty of money, and filing a patent to thefields. Under the law the Brazilian Government would be entitled to alarge share of the find in precious stones, but even at that our sharewould have been enormous. Once the patent to the diamond field wasfiled, the President and the whole National Government of that countrycould be depended upon to protect the owner's rights, even against thegreed and treachery of Terrero. So all that appeared to be left to dowas to get to my friends of the syndicate the two sets of papers thatwould enable them to locate the unknown diamond field. Neither set ofpapers is worth anything by itself, but with the two sets the fieldcan be promptly located. 

"My first thought was to send the two sets of papers by two differentmen. Yet, strange as it may appear to you boys, I could not decideupon two men whom I felt I could fully trust under all circumstances. You have no idea how I have been watched, the last year, by agents ofTerrero. Dalton, though an American, is one of the worst of thesesecret agents of the governor of Vahia. _I_ knew how thoroughly I wasbeing watched, and I, in turn, have had others watching Anson Daltonas effectively as it could be done in a free country like the UnitedStates. 

"Well, to make this long story short, when I had all else in readinessI decided upon Bert Clodis as the one man I could fully trust todeliver the two sets of papers to the members of the syndicate at RioJaneiro. I believed, too, at the time, though I could not be sure, that my relations with Bert Clodis were unknown to Anson Dalton. 

"Yet, not for a moment did I trust too thoroughly to that belief. Ihad Dalton watched. If he engaged passage aboard the 'Constant, ' mysuspicions would be at once aroused. We now know that he securedpassage, by mail, under the name of Arthur Hilton. Beyond theslightest doubt Dalton, that infernal spy, had succeeded indiscovering that I was sending Clodis with the papers. Yet Dalton, orHilton, as he chose to call himself, did not go aboard the 'Constant'openly at New York. I can only guess that he boarded from the tug thattook off the pilot when the liner had reached open sea. 

"I had impressed upon Bert Clodis the importance of keeping the twosets of papers apart, and had advised him that it might not be safe todeposit either in the purser's safe, from which they might be takenthrough the means of a deep-sea burglary. 

"So the probability is that Bert Clodis had one set of papersconcealed on his person. The other set of papers--the one I now havesafe--he seems to have put away in his trunk, believing that no oneseeking to rob him would think him simple enough to leave valuablepapers in a trunk that could be rather easily entered in the hold of aliner. 

"As I have already told you, I had the ship watched at New York, andreceived a message, after her sailing, which told me that no oneanswering Dalton's description had boarded the 'Constant' at herpier. 

"As the liner entered this latitude Bert Clodis was to send off awireless message which, though apparently rather blind, would beenough to advise me that no one answering to Dalton's description hadappeared among the passengers or crew of the 'Constant. ' This news Iawaited at the wireless station at Beaufort, and you can imagine myanxiety. "

"That was why, then, " broke in Joe, suddenly, "when I received thatmessage about the injury to Mr. Clodis, you were able to break in soquickly?"

"Yes, " nodded Mr. Seaton. "I was waiting, and was on tenterhooks. Iwould have joined you, and would have gone out in haste to receiveBert Clodis myself, but I realized that, if I delayed you, the bigliner would get past us, and Bert Clodis must most likely die on theway to Brazil. "

"Why weren't you out here, sir, at this bungalow, where you could havereceived the message as well, and then have gone out with us on the'Restless'?" inquired Tom Halstead, with deepest interest in thisstrange narration. 

"I was at Beaufort, " responded Mr. Seaton, "because I felt it verynecessary to be where I could use a private wire to New York that Ihad reserved. I was, at that time, waiting for word from New York ofany possible discovery that could be made concerning the movements ofthe infamous Dalton, whom I did not then know, or believe, to be onboard the 'Constant. '"

There was silence for a few moments, but Powell Seaton at last wenton, thoughtfully:

"We now know that Bert Clodis did _not_ deposit any papers with thepurser of the ship. One set of the papers, therefore, must have beentucked away in his clothing. Dalton, after assaulting Bert Clodis, orhaving it done, must have rifled his pockets and found one set. Heeven had time to look through them and discover that that set wasincomplete. Then, on seeing Clodis's trunk go aboard the 'Restless'with the injured man, Dalton guessed that the remaining papers mightbe in the trunk. That was why Dalton decided to leave the 'Constant. 'But your flat refusal to let him go down into the cabin, where thebaggage had been taken, foiled the fellow at that point. Then, fearingthat he would run into me, and that I might even resort to violence, Dalton hailed that schooner, the 'Black Betty, ' and made his momentaryescape. "

"No doubt, " interposed Halstead, "Dalton has had plenty of chance toput _his_ set of the stolen papers in safe hiding. But isn't it barelylikely that he had already engaged Captain Dave Lemly to be hangingabout in these waters with that little black schooner?"

"Wholly likely, " nodded Mr. Seaton, thoughtfully. "However, boys, Ihave trusted you with as much as my very life is worth in telling youall this. I would rather lose my life than see my friends, as well asmyself, beaten in this great diamond game. As the matter now stands, Dalton has won the first step, but he hasn't enough knowledge toenable his employer, Terrero, to locate my precious find. I canduplicate the missing papers, and the other set, which I have heresecure, I must also send to Rio Janeiro by some other most trustedmessenger, should Clodis, poor fellow, die, or prove unfit to makeanother attempt. "

"And do you think, sir, that there's only one honest man on earth?"asked Tom Halstead, in considerable surprise. 

"There are several men that I _believe_ to be honest, " returned theowner of the bungalow, "yet only one that I know to be _honest_, andwho possesses at the same time the judgment to undertake a missionlike the one I have been telling you about. "

"Then it won't really do Dalton any good to start for Brazil unless hecan get hold of the contents of the other set of papers?" Halsteadasked, after a pause of a few moments. 

"Not until the fellow can get his clutches on the papers that I havesecretly locked in that closet over there, " confirmed Mr. Seaton. "AndI have told none but you trustworthy youngsters that the other set_is_ hidden in such an easy place to get at. "

Then, as though struck by a thought, Powell Seaton crossed the room, drawing his key-ring from a pocket. He fitted the right key to thedoor, and swung the latter open. An instant more, and there came fromMr. Seaton's lips a cry much like the frightened howl of a wildbeast. 

"The second set of papers is gone--stolen from here!"

There was an almost simultaneous gasp of consternation from the threeMotor Boat Club boys as they rushed forward. But they had no need tosearch. Seaton had done that thoroughly, and now he turned to eyethem. As he stared--or glared--a new thought came into Seaton's mind, reflecting itself in his eyes. The boys could see him fighting againsthis own new suspicion. 

"Halstead, " cried Powell Seaton, clutching at the side of the doorway, "I told you all about this hiding place. I trusted you!"

It was Tom Halstead's turn to go deathly white and stagger. 

"Do you mean, sir, that YOU SUSPECT ME?" demanded the young skipper, in a voice choked with horror. 

CHAPTER X

THE TRAITOR AT THE AERIALS

"Wait! Don't take anything too seriously. I've--got to--think!"

Powell Seaton had stood, for two or three moments, staring fromHalstead to the other motor boat boys. 

"Humph! Well, this is good, but I don't like it, " grimaced Hank Butts, taking two steps backward. 

Powell Seaton began to pace the room, his hands at his head. He lookedlike one who suddenly found it impossible to think. 

Hank opened his mouth to say something angry, but Captain Tom checkedhim with a look and a gesture. 

"May we search in that closet for you, sir?" called Halstead, when athud told that the owner of the bungalow had dropped heavily back intohis chair. 

"You may look there, if you want to. Anyone may look there--now!"uttered the amazed one. 

Without saying more Tom, in deep agitation, began the task he hadinvited upon himself. Joe Dawson came and stood looking quietly overhis chum's shoulder, ready to help if necessary. As for Hank, hestood, a picture of injured pride, staring at the distracted man. 

"No; there's nothing here, " admitted Halstead, at last. "At least, theonly thing we're interested in isn't here. "

"Of course it isn't, " moaned Seaton. "Yet you boys were the only onesI told. And, the only time I left the house, it was safe upon myreturn. I also told you boys that. "

"If he keeps on talking in that strain, " muttered Hank, half-aloud, "I'll make his head ache!"

"No, you won't, " uttered Captain Tom, gripping his comrade's armalmost fiercely. "There's trouble enough on the premises as it is. Hold your tongue, Hank, until we're all in a good mood to say pleasantthings. "

Thereupon, with a snort, Hank dragged a chair into a far corner, andseated himself in it. 

Halstead walked slowly to the table, on which Mr. Seaton was restinghis elbows, his face buried in his hands. 

"There must be some explanation for this, Mr. Seaton, " began the youngmotor boat skipper, more calmly. "I don't mind your first suspicion ofme, because----"

"Not you, more than the others, " broke in the bungalow's owner, excitedly. "All of you young men knew about the hiding-place. Youwere the only ones besides myself who did know. "

Again Hank gripped his fists tightly, but a stern look from Joe Dawsonprevented Butts from giving any further expression of his feelings. 

"Don't sit there like that, Mr. Seaton, " broke in Tom Halstead, oncemore. "Whatever has happened, something must be done--and it must bethe right thing, and at once. "

"You can search us, if you want----" began Hank's growling voice, butJoe Dawson stood before him, towering in grim purpose. 

"Don't you open your mouth again, Hank, until you've collected somesense, " warned Joe. "Let Tom do the talking. He's the captain, anyway. "

"You're right, " responded Powell Seaton, looking up in a good deal ofa daze. "I must do something--quickly--yet what?"

"If anyone has stolen the final set of papers, " advanced the youngskipper, "it must have been either Dalton or someone working for him. In either case, Dalton must now have the papers, or he soon willhave. "

"But what does this lead to?" inquired Mr. Seaton, regarding his youngcaptain dubiously. 

"Why, sir, it must be plain that the best course is to drop all othersteps and concentrate every bit of your energy and ingenuity ongetting hold of Anson Dalton. "

"Yet what can I do to him, if I do?"

"In the first place, you might charge him with being the man whostruck Albert Clodis over the head. That would be enough to have yourman arrested on, even if you couldn't prove the charge. A charge thatyou _can_ fight on is that of having helped to steal the 'Restless'the other night. If you can only get the fellow locked up, then you'llhave more time to find out whether there's any way of getting themissing papers away from him, or from any hiding place in which he hasput them. "

"Lock the fellow up?" jeered Powell Seaton. "Bah, boy, you don't seemto realize the money that's behind him. Ten thousand dollars, or ahundred thousand, it would all be the same, and Dalton, out on bail, could flee in whatever direction he wanted to. "

"Then what _are_ you going to do?" demanded Captain Tom, incisively. 

In this instant of utter uncertainty a tinkling of a bell broke inupon them. It was the call bell that Dawson had attached to thewireless apparatus. 

"Remember, _you_ keep quiet, " almost whispered Joe to Hank, thenquitted the room hastily. Butts suddenly began to grin sheepishly. Rising, he sauntered over to a window. 

Joe had hurried to the wireless room on the mere chance that it mightbe a message for Lonely Island. It was much more likely to be theregular business of ships passing on the sea. But as he entered theroom Dawson heard the clicking call from a receiving instrument:

"CBA! CBA!" That was Lonely Island's call surely enough. 

Breaking in at the key, Joe sent the sparks chasing each other up theaerials. Having answered, he slipped on the head-band, fitting thewatch-case receivers over his ears. Picking up a pencil, he wrote. 

It was a rush telegram from Mr. Seaton's lawyer, up at Beaufort, andit read:

 Man much resembles description of Dalton has just been reported embarking on seventy-foot cruising motor boat ten miles above this city. Man in command of boat positively said to be Captain Dave Lemly. 

"Remain at wire for further talk, " Joe's trembling fingers signaledback. Then, leaping up, he bounded into the next room. 

"Read it to me, " Powell Seaton begged. 

Tom Halstead took the sheet, reading rapidly yet clearly. The youngskipper was excited, though he forced himself to remain cool. 

"There's your call to action, Mr. Seaton, " he wound up with. 

"Yes, but what action?" demanded the owner of the bungalow. Ever sincethe discovery of the loss of the papers this man had seemed all butunable to speak. 

"We've got to overhaul that other motor boat, though her length willhave to be description enough if we can't get a better one, " declaredthe young skipper. "Hank, go down and open up the motor room. Startthe motors going, though be gentle. Don't break anything, or put themotors out of business. Joe, go back to the wireless, and see whetheryou can get a more exact description of that boat--especially thecourse she is believed to have sailed on. Hustle! Mr. Seaton, hadn'tyou better inform Dr. Cosgrove that you'll be absent for a while?"

The owner of the bungalow moved as though glad of directions thatsaved him the trouble of thinking. 

Joe promptly sent a wireless back to Beaufort asking for a betterdescription of the seventy-footer and the last course upon which shehad been seen. 

The only further word the lawyer's informant could furnish, as Joeascertained ten minutes later, was that the boat was painted a drabtint and had a "smoke-stack" ventilator. When last seen the boat washeading out nearly due east from her starting-point. 

"Going out to meet a liner, for some port, " clicked Tom, as he heardthe news. "Well, it's our business to find that drab motor boat. "

As Joe caught up his cap, Mr. Seaton looked rather uncertainly fromone boy to the other. 

"You say we're to go out on this jaunt over the water, " remarked theowner of the bungalow. "But I don't know. Perhaps you want me to gotoo badly. There may be something behind----"

"Stop right where you are, if you please, sir, " broke in Tom Halstead, a decided trace of bitterness in his tone. "You're still more thanhalf-inclined to suspect us boys of causing the loss of the papers youhad hidden in the closet. I am not blaming you altogether, Mr. Seaton, though you are doing us a great injustice. But you _must_ believe inus just at the present time, for going with us offers you your onlychance of catching up with Dalton and saving your own friends of thesyndicate. Come along, sir! Try to trust us, whether it seems wise ornot, since it's your only chance. "

The young skipper seized his charter-man by one arm, almost dragginghim along. Yet Powell Seaton, who was in a state of horribleuncertainty, permitted this forcing. 

Outside, on the porch, Captain Tom hesitated for a moment, then, afterglancing at the guards, went on briskly:

"Mr. Seaton, I know you don't want to carry an armed force forpurposes of attack on anyone, and you wouldn't have a right to do it, anyway. But, as we may be attacked, if we run afoul of Dalton and hisfriends, won't it be much better if you take at least a couple of yourarmed guards from this place?"

Nodding curtly, Mr. Seaton called to Hepton and Jasper, two of theguards, explaining that they were needed for a cruise on the"Restless. " The pair followed along after the others. 

"You can keep your rifles, just as well, in the motor room, " suggestedCaptain Tom, and the fire-arms were placed below. 

Hank had everything in readiness for casting off. Within forty-fiveseconds after boarding, the "Restless" was under way, poking her nosein a north-easterly direction. 

"We'd better loaf later on, rather than now, Joe, " proposed the youngskipper. "See how much speed you can crowd out of the motors. "

Powell Seaton chose to go aft, all alone, dropping into one of thedeck arm-chairs. For a long time he remained there, moody and silent. 

"What liner do you figure on Dalton trying to overtake and board?"queried Joe, coming up at last out of the motor room. 

"Why, I don't just know, " confessed Tom, pondering. "But I'll tell youwhat you can do, Joe. Leave Hank to watch the motors. You go to thewireless apparatus and send out the longest spark you can get. Directyour call to any vessel bound for Rio Janerio, or Brazil in general. If you get an answer from such a craft, ask her latitude andlongitude, course and speed, so we can make for her directly. "

As Joe nodded, then dropped down into the motor room, intending to goby the passageway under the bridge deck, Tom noted a lurking figure afew feet behind him. 

"Hullo! What are you doing there, Jasper?" queried the young captain. 

"Jest mindin' my own business, " replied the man, with a half-surlygrin. 

"I'm minding mine, in asking you, " retorted Halstead, quietly. "Idon't like passengers so close to me when I'm handling the boat. "

"I s'pose mebbe you don't, " rejoined Jasper, yet making no move. 

"Won't you take a hint?" asked Tom, rather bluntly. 

"Where d'ye want me to stand?" asked the fellow, sulkily. 

"You could go further aft, for instance, " replied Tom. One hand onthe wheel, he stood half-turned, eying this stubborn guard. 

"Oh, all right, " came gruffly from Jasper, as he started slowly aft. 

"Maybe I'm wrong for thinking much about it, " muttered Tom, under hisbreath, "yet it was this same man who was so close to us the othernight when Mr. Seaton and I were talking about the papers hidden inthe closet at the bungalow. "

Two or three minutes later a slight sound caused the young skipper toturn with a start. He saw Jasper in the very act of fitting awire-nipper to one of the parallel wires of the aerial of thewireless. 

In an instant Captain Tom Halstead jammed his wheel and locked it. Then he dashed at the fellow. 

CHAPTER XI

THE DRAB BOAT SHOWS HER NOSE

"You keep off!" snarled Jasper, drawing back on the defensive, holdingthe wire-nippers so as to use them in defending himself. 

But, if the young captain of the "Restless" knew any fear, at suchmoments, he didn't permit others to see it. He neither stopped norswerved. Ducking in under Jasper's extended right arm, Tom closed withthe fellow, grappling. 

"Confound ye! I'll have to throw ye over into the water!" growledJasper, fighting for a hold around the boy's waist and behind hisback. But Halstead fought to break the grip, at the same timeyelling:

"Hank! Here, mighty quick!"

Jasper fought, trying to force the young commander to the rail. He hadhalf succeeded when Hank Butts raced on deck. Hepton, the other guard, who had been lounging in the engine room, was right behind Butts. Bothof them raced to reach the struggling pair. Hank caught Jasper at thewaist-line, while Hepton took a hold at Jasper's neck, forcing thefellow back. 

Then Tom sailed into the melee with renewed energy. Jasper was apowerfully-built fellow, but the three were too many for him. Theytripped Jasper, throwing him to the deck, and Hepton sat upon hiscomrade's chest. 

"Halstead! You others! What does this violence mean?"

Powell Seaton shouted the question sternly. He had been disturbed bythe racket and now stood amidships. 

"Get him over, face down, " panted Tom. "We'll make sure of the fellowbefore we begin to explain. Hank, run for a pair of handcuffs!"

Butts was up and off like a shot, wholly liking the nature of hiserrand. 

"Halstead!" raged Mr. Seaton. "I insist upon an answer. "

"It's a case of sea-bullying--that's what it is, " growled Jasper. "It's an outrage. "

"Hepton, " warned the charter-man, "get up off of Jasper's chest. Lethim go. "

"Don't you do it, " countermanded Tom Halstead. "It won't be safe. Thisfellow is a snake in the grass. I caught him at his tricks. "

Hepton had acted undecidedly for a moment. Now, he concluded to standby the young captain. 

In a trice Hank was back. Now the three assailed Jasper, rolling himover on his face. Tom Halstead, himself, fitted the handcuffs. 

"Take the wheel, Hank, until I'm through with this, " panted Tom, leaping up from the treacherous guard. The locked wheel was nowsteering the "Restless" over an erratic course, but Hank swiftly hadthe boat on her true course once more. 

"I insist on knowing what this shameful business means, " cried Mr. Seaton, glaring at his young skipper. 

[Illustration: Tom Halstead Fitted the Handcuffs. ]

"I should think you might. It's an outrage!" shouted Jasper. 

"This fellow, " charged young Captain Halstead, "was in the very act ofcutting the aerial wires with a wire-nipper when I caught him. Why, Ican show you the nippers he had. "

Tom wheeled, to make a quick search along the deck. Jasper grinnedcovertly for he had thrown the nippers overboard in the struggle. 

"You see!" flared the prisoner. "He talks about nippers--but where arethey?"

"Halstead, " demanded Mr. Seaton, "do you intend to obey me by settingthis man free until I've had an opportunity to investigate all sidesof this remarkable charge?"

"No, sir, I do not, " rejoined Halstead, quietly though firmly. 

"Do you forget that I command here?" raged the charter-man. 

"Pardon me, but you don't command, " retorted Skipper Tom, respectfully. "It is true that you have this boat under charter, but Iam the captain and one of the owners, and I must handle trouble aboardin the manner that seems best. I caught this man in a treacherousattempt to make our errand this afternoon quite useless. Jasper staysin irons until we reach port. I'm sorry to be so stubborn with you, Mr. Seaton, but, just now, you've a queer idea that I'm workingagainst you. I must save you, sir, even from your own blindness. Hepton, will you help me take this fellow aft?"

"Surely, " nodded the guard, who, while he had not seen the start ofthe trouble, much preferred believing Halstead to Jasper. 

Seeing that resistance might bring him nothing but a beating, Jaspersulkily allowed himself to be led along the deck. Down into the cabinhe was taken, there to be thrust into the starboard stateroom. Joe, from his wireless table at the forward end of the cabin, looked upwith much curiosity. 

"He was trying to snip the wires in your aerial, " Halstead explained, after turning the key in the stateroom door. 

"Glad you got him, then, " nodded Dawson. 

Mr. Seaton had followed as far as the doorway. There he halted, wellconvinced that he could not, at present, persuade the young skipper tochange his mind. 

"Now, if you'll be good enough to come up to the bridge deck, Mr. Seaton, I want to explain matters to you, sir, " proposed the captainof the "Restless. "

Rather stiffly the charter-man followed. Hepton, as though to showfurther good faith, took pains to remain aft. 

"Do you remember the other night, when we were coming back with theguard for Lonely Island, " began Tom, in a low voice, "that we foundone of the new guards leaning well over the deck-house behind ourbacks?"

"I do, " nodded Powell Seaton, coldly. 

"That man, sir, was Jasper. To-day, when we are out trying to traceAnson Dalton over the open sea, I find that same fellow, Jasper, trying to cut the parallel wires of the aerial. Why should he do thatunless he means to try to prevent our catching up with Dalton? Now, sir, putting two and two together, doesn't it seem mighty reasonableto suspect that Jasper overheard what we were saying the other night, and then watched his chance to steal the papers that you and I thoughtwere so safely hidden in the cupboard at the bungalow? I know, Mr. Seaton, you feel that you have some reason for suspecting us boys. Inview of what happened the other night, and again this afternoon, isn'tit a whole lot more sensible to trace your misfortunes to Jasper?"

Powell Seaton, whose daze had continued ever since starting on thiscruise, now pondered deeply, with knitted brows. At last, however, helooked up quickly, holding out his right hand, as he exclaimed:

"Halstead, I begin to believe that I have been too hasty andsuspicious. I have hated myself for distrusting any of you boys, andyet----"

"And yet, " smiled Tom, "you are beginning to feel that there is not asmuch reason for suspecting us as there is for believing that the guiltof a mean theft lies at someone else's door. "

"I beg you to forgive me, Halstead, you and your mates. But I hardlyknow what I am thinking or saying. My mind is in too deep a turmoil. "

"We'll forget it, Mr. Seaton, " continued Halstead, as he pressed theother's hand. "_I_ can, easily, and I hope you'll do your best tobelieve that you can trust us as fully as others have done. "

"You may just as well come forward, Hepton, " hailed Captain Tom, a fewmoments later. "And I want to thank you for the way you stood by mewhen I needed help so badly. "

"Ever since we've been at the island I've felt that I didn't believeany too much in that man Jasper, " muttered Hepton. "He has been actingqueer some of the time. "

"How?" asked Mr. Seaton. 

"Well, for one thing, he always wanted the night guard duty. And hegrowled at taking the porch or the dock. What he wanted to do was toroam off about the island by himself. Whenever he came back he wantedto sit in your sitting-room, at the bungalow, and the fellow scowledif some of the rest of us showed any liking for staying in thatsitting-room. "

"What do you make of that, sir?" asked Captain Halstead, lookingsignificantly at Powell Seaton. 

"It sets me to thinking hard, " replied that gentleman, gravely. 

Hepton glanced with natural curiosity from one to the other. Then, finding that he was not to be enlightened as to what had happenedashore, he soon stepped aft again. 

"Here's what you want to know, I reckon, " announced Joe, in a lowvoice, as his head bobbed up out of the motor room. In one hand heheld a slip of paper on which he had just taken down a message. "Twenty miles north of us is the Langley Line freighter, 'Fulton. 'She's headed this way, and coming at fourteen knots. "

Skipper Tom received the paper, studying the position and course asJoe had jotted them down. 

"The Langley boats run to Rio Janeiro, don't they?" asked Halstead. 

"Yes, and every boat of that line carries a wireless installation now, too, " Joe continued. "She's the only boat that answered my hail. "

"Take the new course, Hank, " called the young skipper to the boy atthe wheel, and rattled it off. The "Restless" swung around to a nearlynortherly course. 

"At her speed, and ours, it needn't be many minutes before we sightthe 'Fulton, '" judged Halstead. "Hank, you keep the wheel. I want achance to handle my glasses. "

With the marine binoculars in his hand Skipper Tom soon began to sweepthe horizon. 

"There's what the wireless did for us, " he chuckled to Mr. Seaton. "Without our electrical wave we wouldn't have known, for sure, thatthere was a Rio boat in these waters this afternoon. And, but forgetting the 'Fulton's' position and course by wireless, we'd haveswept by to the eastward, away out of sight of the freighter. "

Within a few minutes more the young skipper, by the aid of hisglasses, got a glimpse of a steamship's masts. A few minutes later theupper works of her high hull were visible. 

"That's the 'Fulton. ' I know the Langley type of freighter build, "Halstead explained, eagerly. "We'll soon be close enough to see hername-plate through the glass. And--oh!--by Jove!"

Tom waved the glasses with a flourish, pointing, then handed them toPowell Seaton. 

"Look right over there to the north-westward, sir, and you'll make outthat drab-hulled seventy-footer. She's just coming into sight. "

"I see her, " nodded Mr. Seaton. 

Captain Halstead took the glasses again, studying both theseventy-footer and the freighter intently, judging their relativespeeds and positions. 

"Dalton, or his friend, Lemly, has nicely calculated the drab boat'srun, " declared the young skipper of the "Restless, " "Dalton's craft isin fine position to stop the freighter. But we'll reach the 'Fulton'first, and by some minutes, too, sir. The drab boat looks like a goodone, but I believe we're a shade faster in the stretch. "

"What are we going to do when we overhaul both craft?" wondered PowellSeaton, aloud. 

"Why, sir, it will be easy enough to make the 'Fulton's' captainrefuse to take any such passenger as Dalton. "

"How?" demanded Mr. Seaton. 

"Just inform the 'Fulton's' captain that Anson Dalton is a fugitivefrom justice. If you do that, the freighter's captain isn't going totake any chances on getting into subsequent trouble with Uncle Sam. The captain will simply decline to receive him as a passenger on thehigh seas. "

Powell Seaton looked very cheerful for a moment. Then a look of darkdoubt crossed his face. 

"That will be all right, Halstead, unless it happens that the captainof the 'Fulton' is a man on the inside of some official affairs downin Brazil. If that be so, then your freighter's captain may recognizeDalton as a man of consequence--one to be served at all hazards. For, if a steamship captain of the Langley line must be careful to standwell with the United States authorities, he must also be no lesscareful to keep in the good graces of some of the cliques of Brazilianofficers. So what if Dalton goes aboard the freighter, and her captainsends us a derisive toot of his whistle?"

Tom Halstead's face showed his instant uneasiness. 

"If that turns out to be the case, sir, " he whispered, "you've lostyour last chance to stop Anson Dalton. He goes to Brazil with all thepapers for locating the diamond mine, and you and your syndicatefriends lose the whole big game!"

CHAPTER XII

THE SEARCHLIGHT FINDS A "DOUBLE"

Yet, though his confidence in success had received a severe jolt, Captain Tom reached out for the megaphone. 

"Run in straight and close, Hank, " he ordered. "I want every possiblesecond of conversation before that drab boat gets within talkingdistance of the 'Fulton. '"

The "Restless" and the freighter were now within a mile of each other, and almost head-on. The drab boat, about two miles away, had alteredits course so as to pick up the freighter at a more southerly point. 

"Run to your table, Joe, " commanded the young skipper, "and notify the'Fulton' that we are going to hail her for a brief pow-wow. "

The speed with which young Dawson worked was shown by the fact that, when still half a mile away, the big freighter, hailed by wireless, began to slow down speed. It was plain that she was going to lie to inorder to hear the whole of the hail from the "Restless. "

"Great Scott, though! Look at that!" suddenly ejaculated TomHalstead. 

The drab seventy-footer had suddenly gone about, making fast westerlytime for the shore. 

"Go about after the seventy-footer, Hank, " almost exploded Halstead, in the intensity of his excitement over this new move. "Dalton doesn'tseem to want to try the freighter now. Follow Dalton back to shore. "

"But the 'Fulton's' slowing down. You're going to show him thepoliteness of telling the freighter's captain what it was all about, ain't you?"

"Let Joe do it, " replied Tom, tersely. "What's the wireless for?"

Just at this moment Joe Dawson appeared from below. 

"Our apologies to the freighter, Joe, " called Skipper Tom. "Tell himwe're after the drab boat. Tell him that our game is to stop afugitive from getting out of the United States. "

Joe again appeared just as the freighter began to make full headwayonce more. 

"Captain Carson sends you his compliments from the 'Fulton, ' Tom, forchasing the fugitive off. "

"And now, we're going to chase that fugitive in, " uttered Halstead, grimly. "By George! Look at the way that drab boat is beginning totravel. Joe, we can't let her lose us in this fashion. "

As the "Fulton" passed out hull down, and then finally vanished on thesouthern horizon, the chase after the drab seventy-footer becamelively and exciting. 

"Can you make out Dalton aboard of her?" asked Powell Seaton, as Tomstood forward, leaning against the edge of the forward deck-house, themarine glass as fast to his eyes as though glued there. 

"No, sir. If Dalton is aboard, he's keeping out of sight in thecabin. "

"Did you see, when the drab boat was more head-on, whether Lemly wasat the wheel?"

"The man at the wheel wasn't Lemly, sir, though I believe that fellowis on board as the actual captain, " Halstead answered. 

"Humph! Is the Drab going to get away from us?" questioned Hank, wonderingly. "My, look at her bow cut water!"

"She's a faster boat than I thought, " Tom responded. "But we don'tmean to let her get away. Joe, how are we going on speed?"

"I couldn't get another revolution out of the twin shafts withoutoverheating everything, " Dawson replied, seriously. "Honestly, Tom, ifthis speed doesn't suit, I'm afraid we'll have to make the best ofit. "

"Then don't lose a single inch by bad steering, Hank, " Halsteaddirected, looking around at his helmsman. "Whenever you want relief, let me know. "

For five miles the drab seventy-footer kept her lead, though she didnot seem able to increase it. That craft was still heading shoreward, and now the low, long, hazy line of the coast was in sight, becomingevery minute more plain. 

"They're going to head straight for the shore, unless they've someslicker trick hidden up their sleeves, " declared Tom Halstead. 

"I wonder that they're running so hard from us, " mused Powell Seaton. 

"Most likely, sir, " responded the young skipper, "because Dalton andLemly believe we have officers aboard. Of course they know--orsuspect--that warrants are out charging them with stealing the'Restless' the other night. "

"Suppose Dalton and Lemly are not aboard that boat?" challenged Mr. Seaton, suddenly. 

Tom Halstead's lower jaw sagged for just an instant. 

"Of course, there's that chance. We may have been fooled, and we maybe chasing a straw man in a paper boat right at this minute, sir. Yet, if Dalton were out on the water, with his stolen papers, he'd want toget nowhere else but to Brazil. If he isn't on the water, then he'snot trying this route to your Brazilian enemies, and we might as wellbe out here as on Lonely Island. "

As the boat in the lead neared the coast Halstead again kept themarine glass to his eyes. 

"There's a little river over yonder, " he observed. 

"Yes; I know the stream. Hardly more than a creek, " replied Mr. Seaton. 

"Any deep water there, sir?"

"For only a very little way in. Then the stream moves over a pebblybottom like a running brook. "

"Then it looks, sir, as though Lemly--if he's aboard--plans to run inthere and hustle ashore. "

"Or else stay and fight, " hinted Powell Seaton. "The place is lonelyenough for a fight, if the rascals dare try it. "

"Hepton!" summoned Halstead, a few moments later. "Don't you thinkyou'd better get up your rifle? You don't need to show it, but someonemay send us a shot or two from the drab boat. "

Hepton sprang below, bringing up both rifles. Crouching behind theforward deck-house, he examined the magazines of both weapons. 

"We're carrying load enough for a squad o' infantry, " laughed Hepton, showing his strong, white teeth. "Let those fellers on the Drab tryit, if they want to see what we've got. "

The seventy-footer was shutting off speed now, going slowly into themouth of the little river. Almost immediately afterwards her reversewas applied, after which she swung at anchor. 

Tom, too, without a word to Hank, who stood by the wheel, reachedover, slowing the "Restless" down to a gait of something like eightmiles an hour. 

"What's the order, sir?" he asked, turning to Mr. Seaton. "Are we togo in and anchor alongside?"

"I--I don't want to run you young men into any too dangerous places, "began Powell Seaton, hesitatingly. "I--I----"

"Danger's one of the things we're paid for, " clicked Tom Halstead, softly. "It'll all in the charter. Do you want to go in alongside?"

"I--I----"

Bang!

The shot came so unexpectedly that the motor boat boys jumped despitethemselves. Hepton cocked one of the rifles, and was about to risewith it, when the young skipper of the "Restless" prodded the mangently with one foot. 

"Don't show your guns, Hepton, " murmured Tom. "Wait until we find outwhat that shot was meant for. "

No one now appeared on board the drab seventy-footer. There had beenno smoke, no whistle of a bullet by the heads of those on the bridgedeck of the "Restless. "

"That was intended only to make us nervous, " grinned Captain Tom. 

"Or else to show us that they have fire-arms, " suggested Seaton. 

"Well, sir, I'm headed to go in alongside, unless you give me otherorders, " hinted the young skipper. 

"Cover about half the rest of the distance, then reverse and lie to, "decided Powell Seaton. He now had the extra pair of marine glasses, and was attentively studying both the boat and the shore nearby. 

Tom took the wheel himself, stopping where he had been directed. Soneatly was headway corrected that the "Restless" barely drifted on thesmooth water inshore. 

There was now remaining less than an hour of daylight. 

"I think I understand their plan, if Dalton is on board, " whisperedMr. Seaton to his young captain. "Dalton is waiting until it is darkenough to slip ashore. "

"Hm! There's one way you _could_ stop that, if you want to take allthe risk, " ventured Halstead, grinning thoughtfully. 

"How?"

"Well, if it's the plan of anyone aboard the drab boat to slip onshore under cover of darkness, then I could put our tender overboardand row Hepton to one bank of the river with his rifle. Returning, Icould row you to the other shore, you to carry the other rifle. "

"That would be a bold and open move, " agreed Mr. Seaton, gasping atfirst, then looking thoughtful. "But look at that shore, Halstead. Seethe thick trees on either bank of the river. Hepton and I couldn'twatch a lot of stretch on both banks. "

"With our help from the boat you could, sir. "

"Again, how?"

"Why, it's shallow enough to drop anchor right here, Mr. Seaton. Then, as soon as it grows the least bit dark, we boys could keep oursearchlight turned on the drab boat so that you and Hepton could seeevery movement on her decks. From a quarter of a mile off you couldsee anyone swimming ashore and run to stop him. There's no difficultyabout it, sir, except the risk. "

"Hepton, I must talk that over with you, " cried Powell Seaton. "Idon't feel that I have any right to run you into too certaindanger. "

But Hepton smiled again in a way to show his white teeth. 

"Don't worry 'bout me, Mr. Seaton. I feel big 'nough to take care ofmyself, and I enlisted for the whole game, anyway. "

"You could keep watch right from this deck, " Halstead added. "Butthen, if anyone slipped ashore from the Drab, you couldn't get onshore fast enough to follow through the woods. You'd lose the trailright after the start. "

"Even if I were on shore, and Dalton walked right by me, what could Ido?" pondered Powell Seaton. "Of course, I know the sheriff of thecounty would take him, for going aboard this boat and breaking itloose from the dock the other night. A United States marshal mightarrest Dalton, on my request, for piracy in sailing away with theboat. But would I have a right to seize Dalton and hold him--even ifable?"

"You can follow him until you _do_ run Dalton into one of the law'sofficers, " proposed Halstead. 

"I believe I'm going ashore, anyway, to see what happens, " announcedMr. Seaton, after giving the matter a little more thought. 

"But let me go ashore, first, on the other bank, " begged Hepton. "Thenyou can take second chance, sir. "

"Very good, then, " agreed the charter-man. 

With the aid of his mates, Captain Tom had the anchor overboard, andthe small tender alongside in a jiffy. Hepton stepped down into thesmaller craft, carrying his rifle so that it could be seen. Tomhimself took the oars to row. 

"I'd better put you in on the bank to the left, " whispered Halstead, and Hepton nodded. 

They passed within forty yards of the stern of the drab boat, yet nota single human being appeared on that mysterious craft. 

Having put Hepton on shore, Halstead rowed back for Mr. Seaton. Embarking this second passenger, Tom, this time, rowed a little closerto the seventy-footer lying at anchor in the river's mouth. Now, thehead of a man unknown to either of them showed aft. 

"Where you-all goin' with so many guns?" this man asked, in ahalf-jeering tone. 

"Night hunting, " retorted Tom, dryly, not feeling guilty of a liesince he was certain the other would not believe him. 

Landing Mr. Seaton on the other river bank, the young captain of the"Restless" returned to his craft. 

By now it was nearly dark. 

"We may as well see how the searchlight is working, " Joe Dawsonsuggested. 

"Turn it on them, and sweep it around, " responded Halstead. 

The strong glare of light was found to be working satisfactorily. Darkcame on quickly, still without any more signs of life aboard the Drabthan had already been observed. 

"Supper time, surely, " announced Hank, in a glum voice. 

"Don't bother about that to-night, " objected the young skipper. "Slipdown into the galley and make sandwiches enough for all hands. We caneat and watch--_must_, in fact, if we eat at all. "

After the sandwiches had been made and disposed of the Motor Boat Clubboys began to find the swinging of the light on the drab boat, on thewater and on either river bank, to be growing rather monotonous. 

"I wish something would happen, " grumbled Hank. 

"Now, don't start a fuss about that, " yawned Joe. "Something is likelyenough to start up at any second. "

"It has started, " whispered Tom Halstead, swinging the searchlight, just then, across the Drab's hull. "Look there!"

Two much-muffled figures, looking nearly identical, and each of thepair carrying a bag, appeared on deck amidships, one standing on eachside of the deck-house. Then, as quickly, by their sides stood twoother men who sprang to lower the two small boats that hung at davits. One muffled man and one helper embarked in each boat, the helper ineach case rowing swiftly to either bank of the river. 

"That's a queer game, but a clever one, " muttered Captain Tom, swinging the glaring searchlight and watching. 

"It'll mix up Mr. Seaton and Hepton all right, " grimaced Joe Dawson. "Each will wonder whether _he_ has Dalton on his side of the river, tofollow. "

Now, as quickly, the two boat-tenders rowed back to the Drab, and theboats were triced up in a twinkling. 

"Say, they've got their anchor up!" cried Hank Butts, in a breathlessundertone. "They're going to scoot out on us. "

"Then I'm ready to bet, " muttered Tom Halstead, "that neither of themuffled men that went ashore was Anson Dalton. They must be trying tothrow our crowd off the trail, and now that seventy-footer is tryingto get off with Dalton still aboard!"

Whatever the plan was, the Drab was now backing out of the river mouthand swinging around. So far none of her sailing lights were inevidence. She looked more like a pirate craft slinking out into thenight on an errand of dire mischief. 

Once out of the mouth of the river, the Drab swung around, then beganto move ahead. By this time her prow was head-on for the "Restless, "as though aimed to strike the latter craft amidships. 

Then, as the Drab's speed increased, Tom Halstead vented excitedly:

"Jupiter! They're out to cut us in two while we ride here at anchor!"

CHAPTER XIII

TOM HALSTEAD--READY!

There was no time to raise the anchor. Even had this been possible, itwould have been out of the question to get the motors started andrunning in time to get out of the Drab's way. 

Captain Tom Halstead was taken wholly by surprise, yet he was notcaught with his wits asleep. 

"Make a dive for those sticks, fellows!" he shouted, bounding for themotor room hatchway. "If we get a chance we'll give 'em at least a patfor a blow!"

The sticks of firewood that they had used on the night of their longswim were in the motor room. Tom caught up his, wheeling to boundoutside again. Joe Dawson was barely a step behind him. 

But Hank--he went as though by instinct for the hitching weight thathad already made him famous in the annals of the Motor Boat Club. 

Swift as they were, the trio were back on deck just in time to witnessthe final manoeuvre of the seventy-footer. That craft, not moving veryfast, suddenly veered in its course. 

Instead of cutting through the "Restless, " the larger motor boat swungsuddenly so as to come up alongside, rail to rail. And now the wholeintention was manifest at a glance, for the figures of six men, withtheir caps pulled well down over their eyes, appeared at the Drab'srail. 

"All hands to repel boarders!" sang out Captain Tom Halstead, hisvoice ringing defiantly. "Show 'em the best you can!"

Joe swung, with a single-stick trick he had learned and practiced. Itwas a feint, aimed at the first of the Drab's crew to try to leapaboard. The intended victim threw up his hands to ward off the blowfrom the top of his head, but he received, instead, a stinging, crushing slap across the face. 

Tom thrust one end of his stick for the face of another of theboarding strangers. The fellow strove to protect his face, and wouldhave guarded easily enough, but, instead, the other end of Tom'sbludgeon struck him in the pit of his stomach, depriving him of allhis wind. 

"Woof!" grunted Hank, at the first sign of onslaught. 

In both hands he clutched that business-like, though not formidablelooking, hitching weight. One man set his foot on deck. Hank, almostwith deliberation, dropped the weight on the toes of that foot. 

There was a yell of pain. Snatching up the weight instantly, Hank letit fly forward and fall across the toes of another of the boarders. 

Two of the strangers were limping now. Another was nursing an injuredface, from Joe's heavy blow. Captain Tom's victim had fallen backaboard his home craft, gasping for breath. 

The other two of the invaders got aboard the "Restless"--then wishedthey hadn't, for Hank pursued one of them with his terrifying hitchingweight, while Tom and Joe divided the sole remaining enemy betweenthem. 

Hardly had the affair begun when it ended; it was all over in aninstant. The two who had escaped injury leaped back aboard the Drab. Those who needed assistance were helped back. The Drab drifted away, her vagrant course unheeded at first, for it looked as though allaboard had taken part in that disastrous boarding enterprise. 

Tom and Hank sprang for their own anchor, while Joe, as soon as he sawthe big motor boats drift apart, dropped into the small boat of the"Restless" and rowed swiftly for shore. Hardly had he touched thebeach when Powell Seaton, rifle in hand, bounded forth from cover. 

"Put across, and see if we can get Hepton, too, " directed thecharter-man, in a low voice. "I stepped right up out of the bushes, almost into the face of the fellow who landed on my side of the river. It was neither Dalton nor Lemly. As soon as the fellow saw me helaughed, put a chew of tobacco in his mouth, and went on. "

Hardly had Seaton finished speaking when Joe Dawson shot the bow ofthe little boat against the further bank. During this time Mr. Seatonhad kept his eyes on the drab boat, holding his rifle in readiness incase another effort should be made to ram or board the "Restless. "

"Oh, you-u-u-u!" called Joe, hailing. There was a sound in the woods, and then Hepton came into sight. 

"Did you see the man who landed on your side?" whispered PowellSeaton, as Hepton reached the beach. 

"Yes; he was just an ordinary roustabout chap, " grunted Hepton, disgustedly. "I had no orders to follow _him_, so I didn't take thetrouble. "

"That's right. Jump in and we'll get aboard the 'Restless. '"

Hank had the motors working long before Joe returned with his twopassengers, and was standing by. Captain Tom was at the wheel, butkeeping the searchlight inquisitively on the Drab. 

Now, the seventy-footer began to move off slowly down the coast, goingat a speed of perhaps six miles an hour. Halstead, without waiting fororders, went in chase, keeping his place two hundred yards behind theother craft. All the while he kept the searchlight swinging over theDrab, from her port to starboard sides. 

"That must annoy those fellows, " observed Powell Seaton, with achuckle, as he stood by the young skipper. 

"I reckon it does, " returned Tom, dryly. "But it also prevents theirletting anyone off the boat without our seeing it. You see, sir, they're only about a quarter of a mile off the coast here. Their smallboat could make a quick dash for the shore. Even a good swimmer couldgo overboard. I don't intend to let anyone get off that seventy-footerwithout our knowing all about it. "

Halstead had not been silent long when he saw a bright flash from theDrab, aft. It was followed, almost immediately, by the sound of a gun. Then a bullet went by about two feet over their heads. 

"That was meant for our searchlight, " laughed Tom Halstead, coolly. "Those fellows want to put it out of business. "

With an ugly cry Hepton leaned over the edge of the forwarddeck-house, sighting. 

"Don't do that, " called Captain Tom, sharply. Then he added: "I begyour pardon, Mr. Seaton, but I don't believe you want any shooting tocome from us unless it's necessary. "

"No, I don't, " replied the charter-man, thoughtfully. "Dalton andLemly seem willing to take desperate chances, acting like pirates, infact. But we don't want to kill anyone, and, above all, we want to bevery sure we have the law on our side. "

"They fired our way, " urged Hepton, rather stubbornly. "We have aright to defend ourselves. "

"But they sent only one shot, " replied Seaton. "They might afterwardsclaim that it was an accidental discharge. Unless they make it veryplain that they're playing the part of pirates, we'd better take thebest of care not to put ourselves wrong before the law. "

"That's all right, sir, " admitted Hepton. "But, while I'm willing totake any chances that go with my job, it doesn't seem just fair to askme to be exposed to bullets from that other boat without the right toanswer their fire. "

"You can get down before the forward deck-house, Hepton, " noddedHalstead, pleasantly. "You can't be hit through the deck-house. "

"But you can be hit, fine, " objected Hepton. 

"Like Mr. Seaton, " answered the young skipper, "I'd rather take thechance than do anything to put us in the wrong. "

Grumbling a bit, though under his breath, Hepton seated himself wherethe forward deck-house would protect him. Joe remained leaningnonchalantly over the edge of the house. 

"I wonder if they _will_ dare to keep up a fusillade?" he presentlysaid, watching the deck of the drab boat in the glare of light thatHalstead now held steadily on it. 

"If they fire another shot at us, " replied Powell Seaton, "then Heptonand I will crouch over the forward deck-house, rifles ready, and fireat the flash of the third shot. We'll keep within the law, but wewon't stand for any determined piracy that we have the power toresist. "

"Take the wheel, Hank, " called Tom, presently. Then the young skippersigned to his employer that he wanted to speak with him aft. 

"Mr. Seaton, " began Tom, "I want to ask you a few questions, with aview to making a suggestion that may be worth while. "

"Go ahead, Halstead. "

"You trust me now, fully? Have you gotten wholly over your suspicionsof early this afternoon?"

"Halstead, " replied the charter-man, in a tone uneasy with emotion, "I'm wholly ashamed of anything that I may have said or thought. You've shown me, since, how perfectly brave you are. I don't believe ayoung man with your cool, resolute grit, and your clear head, _could_be anything but absolutely honest. "

"Thank you, " acknowledged the young motor boat captain. "Now, Mr. Seaton, though the two sets of papers describing and locating yourdiamond field are out of your hands, don't you remember the contentsof the papers well enough to sit down at a desk and duplicate them?"

"Yes; surely, " nodded Mr. Seaton, slowly. 

"You feel certain that you can seat yourself and write out a set ofpapers that would tell a man down in Brazil just how to locate thediamond field?"

"I can, Halstead. It would be a matter of some hours of writing, that's all. But why are you asking this? What plan have you in yourmind?"

"Well, I've got a hunch, sir, " replied Tom Halstead, quietly, "thatyou're never going to see the lost papers again. If Anson Dalton foundyou getting close to him, and knew you could seize the papers, he'ddestroy them. It seems to me that our sole game must be to prevent hisever getting those papers to Brazil ahead of a second set that you canjust as well write to-night. "

"If we trail him all the time, " replied Powell Seaton, thoughtfully, "we can know whether the fellow succeeds in getting away on a ship toBrazil. He can't go on that drab boat ahead, can he?"

"The seventy-footer would be quite good enough a boat to make thevoyage to Brazil, " Halstead answered. "So would the 'Restless, ' forthat matter. The only trouble would be that neither boat could carryanywhere near enough gasoline for such a voyage. "

"Then Anson Dalton, if he gets away to Brazil, will have to board someregular liner or freighter? Well, as long as we keep him in sight, we'll know whether he's doing that. "

"But Dalton will get desperate, " Tom warned his employer. "Whileholding onto the papers he has succeeded in obtaining, he can make acopy, and he may very likely determine to send the copies to your oldenemy, Terrero, by mail. Now, Mr. Seaton, it seems to me that yourbest hope is to duplicate the missing papers at once, and, if youcan't find in haste a messenger you'll trust, then you had better sendthe papers by registered mail to your friends in Rio Janeiro. "

Powell Seaton stared at the young skipper, going deathly pale. 

"Captain Halstead, don't you understand that the possession of such aset of papers, at Rio Janeiro, would mean that the possessor couldlocate and file a patent to the diamond field, of which no one, savemyself, at present knows the exact location? Why, even if the postalauthorities do their very best to put the papers in the proper hands, anyone like a dishonest clerk might get the papers in his hands. Thetemptation would be powerful for anyone who had the papers to locatethe mine at once for himself. "

"I understand, fully, " agreed Captain Tom. "But the whole thing hasbecome a desperate case, now, and some desperate chances must betaken if you're to have a good chance to win out against Terrero andhis crooked friends. "

"Then you--you--honestly believe I'd better make out another set ofpapers and mail them to my friends of the syndicate, at Rio Janeiro?"faltered Mr. Seaton. 

"Yes; unless you prefer to be almost certain of losing your fight forthe great fortune. For Dalton, of course, knows that you can send aset of the papers by mail. He'll feel like taking the same desperatechance in order to have a better chance of getting in ahead of you. "

"By mail--even registered mail?" groaned Mr. Seaton. "It seems anawful--desperate chance to take. Yet----"

"Prepare a duplicate set of the papers, " proposed Tom Halstead, "and, if you'll trust me, I'll board the first Rio-bound steamer that wemeet, and go through for you. I'll give you every guarantee that'spossible to find your people in Rio and turn the papers over tothem. "

"Will you?" demanded Seaton, peering eagerly into his young skipper'seyes. 

"Then you'll trust me to go as your messenger to Rio?"

"Yes, in a minute, Halstead! Yet I'm thinking of the great dangeryou'd be running. At this moment Terrero's spies must be plentiful inRio Janeiro. Why, even every steamer that leaves New York for Brazilmay carry his men aboard, alert, watchful and deadly. You don't knowwhat a man like Terrero is like. The constant danger to you----"

"Constant danger, " laughed Tom Halstead, softly, "is something thatmost men learn readily to face. Otherwise, wars would be impossible. "

"But that is very different, " retorted Powell Seaton, quickly. "In warmen have the constant elbow-touch, the presence and support ofcomrades. But you would be alone--one against hundreds, perhaps, atthe very instant when you set foot ashore in Brazil. "

"I'll take the chance, if you let me, " declared Captain Tom. "But, now, sir, you're losing time. Why don't you go below, get writingmaterials, and start in earnest to get out the duplicate papers?"

"I will, " nodded the charter-man. "Should I change my mind, it will beeasy enough to burn the sheets after I have written them. "

As Powell Seaton turned to go down into the cabin Joe Dawson calledsharply:

"Tom, something's up ahead! Come here, quickly!"

CHAPTER XIV

GRIT GOES UP THE SIGNAL MAST

Even before Captain Tom turned he heard the sudden throb of the twinscrews of the propellers, and felt the speed being reversed. That toldhim, instantly, that Joe had found some reason for stopping the"Restless" in a hurry. 

As the young commander bounded forward the steady ray of his ownsearchlight showed him that the seventy-footer had also stopped herheadway. 

Hank was still at the wheel, but young Dawson was beside him on thebridge deck. 

"There they go--dropping their anchor overboard, " cried Joe, pointing. "The water's shallow along this coast, of course. "

"We'll move right in, between that boat and the shore, and dropanchor, too, " decided Captain Halstead, taking the wheel and reachingfor the engine control. He sent the "Restless" slowly forward intoplace, then shut off headway, ordering:

"Joe, you and Hank get our anchor over. Dalton can't get anything oranybody ashore, now, without our knowing it. "

"But what can his plan be, anchoring on an open coast?" demanded youngDawson, as he came back from heaving the anchor. 

"Our job is just to wait and see, " laughed Captain Halstead. 

Mr. Seaton came on deck again, to learn what this sudden stopping ofthe boat meant. 

"It's some trick, and all we can do is to watch it, sir, " reported theyoung skipper of the "Restless, " pointing to the anchored Drab. "Yet Ithink the whole situation, sir, points to the necessity for yourtaking my recent advice and acting on it without the loss of anhour. "

"Either the registered mail, or yourself as a special messenger, "whispered Seaton, hoarsely, in the boy's ear. "Yes, yes! I'll fly atthe work. "

"Don't hurry back below, though, " advised Halstead. "Stroll along, asthough you were going below for a nap. A night glass on theseventy-footer is undoubtedly watching all our movements. "

As the two boats swung idly at anchor, on that smooth sea, their bowslay some three hundred yards apart. The night air was so still, andvoices carried so far, that those on the deck of the "Restless" wereobliged to speak very quietly. 

Over on the seventy-footer but one human being showed himself to thewatchers on the smaller boat. This solitary individual paced the drabboat's bridge deck, puffing at a short-stemmed pipe. 

"I'd give a lot to be smart enough to guess what their game is, "whispered Joe, curiously. 

"It's a puzzle, " sighed Captain Tom Halstead. "It looks, now, asthough Dalton and Lemly are trying to hold us here while someone elsedoes something on shore. "

"Then you think the two who landed on either bank of the river----"

"We know that neither of them was Dalton or Lemly, but I'm beginningto suspect that one, or both, of those fellows carried messages, somewhere and of some nature. In that case, we're letting ourcuriosity hold us up here while the enemy are accomplishing somethingat some other point. "

"Confound 'em!" growled Joe, prodding the bulwarks with his toe. "They're clever rascals!"

"Meanwhile, " whispered Tom, "I've just been thinking of something elsethat we ought to be doing. "

"What?"

"There may be another steamship for Rio Janeiro passing somewhere inthese waters at any time. We ought to send out a call on the wirelessat least once an hour. There's something else in the wind, old fellow, and we _do_ want to know when the first steam vessel for Rio passesthrough these waters. "

"Then I'll go below and get at work at the sending key, " proposedDawson. "Send out the wireless call once an hour, you say?"

"Yes; yet we don't want to forget that we're being watched all thetime from that old drab pirate yonder. Don't let the enemy see yougoing to the cabin. "

"I'll drop down into the motor room and use the passageway through. "

Dawson was gone ten minutes. When he returned he shook his head, thenstood looking out over the sea. Excepting the "Restless" and the drabseventy-footer there was no craft in sight. Not so much as alighthouse shed its beams over the ocean at this point of the coast. 

"Say, it's weird, isn't it?" muttered Joe Dawson. "We can't see athing but ourselves, yet down in the cabin I've just been chattingwith the Savannah boat, the New Orleans boat, two Boston fruitsteamers, the southbound Havana liner and a British warship. Look outthere. Where are they? Yet all are within reach of my electric wave!"

"There are no longer any pathless roads of the sea--not since thewireless came in, " declared Tom Halstead. "If there were enoughvessels to relay us we could talk direct with London now. The nextthing will be a telephone in every stateroom, with a wireless centralon the saloon deck or the spar deck. But gracious! We've beenforgetting all about our poor prisoner in the starboard stateroom. Hemust have a royal case of hunger by now. Tell Hank to take him in somefood and to feed the poor fellow, since he can't use his own hands. "

Later time began to drag by. There were few signs of life aboard theseventy-footer. Sending Joe and Hepton down to the motor room berthsas watch below, Tom kept Hank on deck with him. Bye-and-bye Joe andHepton took their trick on deck, while Halstead and Hank Butts wentbelow for some sleep. Through most of the night Powell Seaton remainedhard at work over his writing, often pausing to read and make somecorrections. 

Morning found the two boats still at anchor. With sunrise came astiffer wind that rocked the "Restless" a good deal. 

"Now, look out for one of the sudden September gales, " warned CaptainTom Halstead, as, after the second short sleep of the night, he cameup on deck, yawning and stretching. He stepped over to read thebarometer, then turned quickly to Joe. 

"Looks like something's going to happen, doesn't it?" queried Dawson. 

"Yes; there's a disturbance heading this way, " admitted Tom, lookingaround at the sky. "Yet it may be hours, or a day, off yet. If we weregoing under canvas, though, I'd shorten it. "

"The captain of the Drab evidently believes in being prepared, " hintedJoe, nodding in the direction of the other craft. Two men were nowvisible on the deck of the seventy-footer. They were taking up anchor, though not doing it with either speed or stealth. 

"I reckon we have to take our sailing orders from them, " nodded theyoung skipper. "You'd better get the motors on the mote, Joe. I'llhave Hank and Hepton help me up with our anchor. "

Soon afterwards the Drab was heading north at a ten-mile gait; half aminute later the "Restless" started in leisurely pursuit. 

After half an hour or so the Drab headed into another open roadstead, anchoring a quarter of a mile from shore. Tom dropped anchor somethree hundred yards to the southward. 

"Keep your eye seaward, Hank, " directed the young skipper. "Joe, ifyou'll see whether Mr. Seaton wants anything, Hepton and I will keep akeen eye on the shore. "

"Mr. Seaton is asleep in the port stateroom, " Dawson reported back amoment later. "I've made eight calls through the night, but I'll getat the sending key again, and see whether there's anything in our linewithin hail. "

Hardly had Joe Dawson vanished below when Skipper Tom uttered a suddenexclamation. A sharp, bright glint of light from under the trees onshore caught his watchful eye. 

"Look there!" the young captain called, pointing to the flash. 

"There's another, " muttered Hank Butts, pointing further up thecoast. 

"By Jimminy, there's a third, " cried Hepton, pointing. 

"Signals for the Dalton-Lemly crew, " uttered Tom, disgustedly. "_They_are getting news, now, and of a kind we can't read. Hank! Call Mr. Seaton. _He_ ought to be on deck, watching this. "

The charter-man was speedily up into the open. 

In the meantime Joe, at the powerful sending apparatus below, sent thespark leaping across the spark-gap, and, dashing up the aerials, thereshot into space the electric waves intended to be gathered in by anyother wireless operator within fifty or sixty miles. 

Crash-sh! Ass-ss-ssh! hissed the spark, bounding, leaping to its worklike a thing of almost animal life. 

Bang! This last note that came on the air was sharp, clear, though notloud. Whew-ew! A bullet uttered a swift sigh as it sped past thesignaling mast twenty feet over the heads of the watchers of the"Restless. "

"Confound it! Rascals on shore are shooting at us, " exclaimed PowellSeaton, turning swiftly to peer at the forest-clad shore line. 

"No; they're shooting at our aerials!" retorted Captain Tom Halstead. 

Bang! Whe-ew-ew! Clash! Then there was a metallic clash, for thesecond rifle shot from the land had scored a fair bull's-eye among theclustered aerial wires. There was a rattle, and some of the severedwire ends hung down. 

With an ugly grunt, Hepton bounded down into the motor room, passingup the two rifles. 

"We must be careful, though, " warned Mr. Seaton. "This time they'renot shooting at us. "

"Load and be ready, though!" uttered Captain Tom, dryly. "They soonwill be shooting at us. "

Several more shots clattered out, and two more of the bullets didfurther damage among the aerial wires. Then Joe came dancing up ondeck, his eyes full of ire. 

"The infernal scoundrels have put our spark out of business, " hecried, disgustedly. "We haven't wire enough left to send five miles. Where do the shots come from?"

"From the shore, " Halstead replied, "but see for yourself if you canlocate the marksmen. We can't. They're using smokeless powder, and arehidden so far in under the trees that we can't even make out theflashes. "

"It's out of my line to locate them, " announced Joe Dawson, withvigor. "It's mine to see that the aerials are put on a working basisagain. "

He vanished, briefly, into the motor room, soon reappearing with acoil of wire and miscellaneous tools. 

"Good!" commended Halstead, joyously. "Mr. Seaton, we have wire enoughto repair a dozen smashes, if need be. On up with you, Joe. I'm atyour heels. "

Joe started to climb the mast, using the slightly projecting footholdsplaced there for that purpose. Tom let him get a clear lead, thenstarted up after his chum. 

From the shore broke out a rapid, intermittent volley. Steel-cladbullets sang a song full of menace about that signal mast. 

"Come down, boys! You'll be killed!" roared Mr. Seaton, looking upapprehensively. 

While Joe kept on climbing, in silence, Skipper Tom looked down with acool grin. 

"Killed?" he repeated. "Well, if we're not, we'll fix the aerials. Wecan't allow strangers to put us out of business!"

Joe found his place to go to work. Tom halted, with his head on alevel with his chum's knees. From the shore there came another burstof rifle-fire, and the air about them was sternly melodious with thepest-laden hum of bullets. Two of the missiles glancingly struck wiresjust above Dawson's head. 

In the lull that followed Joe's voice was heard:

"Hold the wire, Tom. Pass me the pliers. "

CHAPTER XV

PLAYING SALT WATER BLIND MAN'S BUFF

"I've got to do something!" growled Hepton, his teeth tightly shut. 

Raising his rifle to his shoulder, making his guess by sound, the manlet two shots drive at the shore, not far back from the beach's edge. Then, after a pause and a long look, he let three more shots drive, slightly changing his sighting each time. 

"Come on, Mr. Seaton, " he urged. "They're firing on your skipper andengineer this time. It's up to us to answer 'em--clear case ofself-preservation. The first _law_ that was ever invented!"

Bang! bang! rang Seaton's rifle, twice. He, too, fired for the forest, near the beach. It was like the man to hope he had hit no one, but hewas determined to stop if possible this direct attack on Tom Halsteadand Joe Dawson. 

Evidently the first sign of resistance was not to stop the botheringtactics of those on shore, for one wire that Joe was handling waszipped out of his hands. 

"They mean business, the enemy, " called down Skipper Tom, softly, tothe tune of a low laugh. "But we'll get rigged, in spite of them. Allwe ask for is that they let us get the wire fixed often enough for afew minutes of sending and receiving once an hour. "

Hepton and his employer continued to fire, using a good deal ofammunition. The guard was much more vengeful in his firing and in hisattempts to locate the hidden marksmen than was Seaton. 

"That's what those two men went ashore for last night, " called downHalstead, quietly. "First of all, to fool us and get us guessing, and, next, to hunt up some of their own rascals for this work. Theseventy-footer led us into this trap on purpose. Finely done, wasn'tit?"

"It shows, " retorted Mr. Seaton, wrathily, "that along this sparselysettled shore there is a numerous gang organized for some law-breakingpurpose. "

"Smuggling, most likely, " guessed Tom. "And it must pay unusuallywell, too, for them to have such a big and so well-armed a crew. "

Three more shots sounded from the shore. All of the trio of bulletswent uncomfortably close to the young skipper and engineer, thoughdoing no actual damage. Hepton, with his ear trained to catch thedirection of the discharge sounds, changed his guess, firing in a newdirection. 

"There, it's done, until it's put out of business again, " mutteredJoe, finally. "Slide, Tom. "

Almost immediately after Dawson disappeared the crash of the sparkacross the spark-gap and up the wires was heard. The young wirelessoperator of the "Restless" was making the most of any time that mightbe left to him. 

"How about that storm that threatened last night, captain?" inquiredMr. Seaton. "Has it come any nearer?"

[Illustration: "There, It's Done, " Muttered Joe. "Slide, Tom. "]

"No, sir, " replied the motor boat captain, shaking his head. "It actedthe way many September storms do on this coast. It passed by us, outto sea, and ought to be down by Havana by now. The barometer has beenrising, and is at nearly the usual pressure. But I don't like thelooks of the sky over there"--pointing. 

"Why not?" queried the charter-man, following the gesture with hiseyes. 

"We'll be playing in great luck, sir, " answered the young captain, "ifa fog doesn't roll in where the storm threatened to come. "

"Fog?" Mr. Seaton's tone had an aghast ring to it. 

"Yes, sir. "

"Are you sure, Captain?"

"No, sir. It's only a possibility, but a good one. "

Hepton was making his rifle bark again, deep, snappy and angry in itsthroat, in answer to a challenge from shore, but Powell Seaton stoodsurveying the weather with a look of deepest concern. 

Then he turned to regard the drab seventy-footer at anchor near by. 

"It would be the enemy's real chance, wouldn't it?" he inquired. 

"Just what I dread, sir, " Captain Tom admitted. "Let us be wrapped ina thick bank of fog, and the Drab would be out of our vision andhearing in a very short time. "

"Shades of hard luck!" groaned the charter-man, growing pallid. 

Off on the seaward horizon an indefinite haze was soon observable. Tothe untrained eye it didn't look like much. Though Mr. Seaton spoke ofit, he didn't appear much concerned. 

"It'll be a pity to bother him until the time comes when he throbswith worry, " thought Captain Tom Halstead, sympathetically. "But ifthat low-hanging haze doesn't spell t-r-o-u-b-l-e, then I've beenraised among a different breed of sea fogs!"

The crashing of sparks over the spark-gap had ceased for the present, and Joe, reporting that there was no wireless craft within reach ofhis limited aerials, was on deck once more, waiting until the timeshould come around for another trial. 

Hank had gone below to start the motors, connecting them with thedynamo, to renew the supply of electrical "juice" in the storagebatteries, which was running low, as proved by the last message sent. 

The chug-chug of the twin motors was heard over on the seventy-footer, and soon an unknown man, his cap pulled well down over his eyes, appeared at the stern of the Drab. He took a long, keen look at the"Restless. "

"He's wondering if we're going to hoist the mud-hook, " smiled Tom. 

"And hoping that we are, " grinned Joe. "Oh, but we must be an eyesoreto those wistful scoundrels!"

Powell Seaton now spent most of his time gazing at the line of haze, which, by degrees, was growing bigger and coming nearer. 

"Captain Halstead, " he faltered, "I'm beginning to feel certain thatyou're a prophet. "

"Or a Jonah?" laughed Tom, though it was not a very cheerful sort oflaugh. 

"No, no, no!" cried the charter-man, earnestly. "Never that! Thelittle luck that I've had in these trying days has all come throughyou youngsters. Without you I'd have been flat on my back in thefearful game that I'm playing with such desperate hopefulness againsthope. But I see our fog is coming in as a sure thing. If it envelopsus, what can you do with regard to that drab-tinted sea-monster overyonder?"

"It depends upon the depth and duration of the fog, sir, " Halsteadanswered. "We have our motors going. At the first strong sign of ourgetting hemmed in by it we'll lift our mud-hook [the anchor] and movein closer. If the fog isn't too thick we may be able to take up aposition where we can at least observe her dimly. If she starts topull out into a fog-bank, we'll follow at her heels, keeping as closeas necessary to keep the Drab's stern flag-pole in sight. We won'tlose her if there's any way of stopping it. "

The advance guard of the fog was in upon them by the time that Joewent once more to his sending table in the forward end of the cabin. The light mist extended to the shore, though it did not altogetherscreen it. But the lookout on the Drab's deck appeared wholly watchfulat the weather side of the craft. 

"Not in touch with any other wireless boat yet, " reported Dawson, coming on deck, presently. 

"Look at that heavier white curtain rolling in, " uttered PowellSeaton, in a tone near to anguish. 

Whoever was in the drab boat's pilot house took occasion to tootderisively twice on the auto whistle. 

"That's as much as warning us that their turn is coming, " declared Mr. Seaton, wrathfully. 

Their faces were wet, now, with the fog as it rolled in. Slowly thenearby shore faded, wrapped in the mist. 

"We'd better get up anchor, " decided Skipper Tom. "Come along, Hank, and you, Hepton. "

As the anchor came up and was stowed, Captain Halstead moved the deckspeed control ever so little. The "Restless" began to barely movethrough the water. They overhauled the seventy-footer, passing withina hundred feet of her starboard rail. Yet only the same deck watchappeared in sight. He favored those on the bridge deck of the"Restless" with a tantalizing grin. 

Halstead slowly circled the drab seventy-footer, Mr. Seaton keepingever a watchful eye on the stranger. 

"There! They're hoisting anchor!" muttered the charter-man, at last. 

"I saw 'em start, " nodded the young skipper. "And the fog is growingthicker every minute. "

"How are you going to beat them, if they try hard to get away?"

"I don't know, " confessed Halstead, honestly. "We may keep 'em intrail, but the chances are all in favor of the drab boat. "

Presently the seventy-footer slipped slowly away from her anchorage. Halstead promptly closed in, keeping not more than a hundred feetbehind her drab stern. If the fog grew no heavier, and the enemy'sspeed no greater, he could maintain his position. 

But the sea-born fog continued to come, looking as though it arrivedin ever-increasing billows. 

Once the seventy-footer's stern vanished for a moment or two. Tom, cautiously increasing the speed, soon came in sight of that drab sternonce more. 

"I don't want to croak, sir, " warned the young motor boat skipper, "but, luck aside, it looks as though we're about done for in this saltwater blindman's buff. "

"I realize it, " nodded Powell Seaton. 

Just then the seventy-footer crawled ahead again into the fog, and waslost to the pursuer. Throwing the wheel somewhat to port, CaptainHalstead tried to come up on the Drab's quarter. A full minute'sanxious suspense followed, but the enemy's stern did not show throughthe white shroud of the atmosphere. 

Then Halstead threw off the power without applying the reverse. The"Restless" drifted under what was left of her headway. 

"They've done it, " uttered Tom Halstead, grimly. "They've given us theslip--gotten away in this white mass of mystery!"

Shaking, Powell Seaton leaned against the deck-house, his face pallidwith sheer misery. 

CHAPTER XVI

A GLEAM OF HOPE THROUGH THE SHROUD OF FOG

Resting one hand lightly on the top spokes of the wheel, youngHalstead turned to his employer with a look of keenest sympathy. 

"Is there any order you wish to give now, Mr. Seaton?"

"What order can I give, " demanded the charter-man, with a piteoussmile, "unless it be to say, 'find the drab boat'?"

Tom made a grimace. 

"Of course I know how senseless that order would be, " pursued Seaton, with a nervous twitching of his lips. In fact, at this moment itfilled one with pity, just to witness the too-plain signs of hisinward torment and misery. 

There was a pause, broken, after a few moments, by the charter-mansaying, as he made a palpable effort to pull himself together:

"Halstead, you've shown so much sense all along that I leave it to youto do whatever you deem best. "

Skipper Tom's brow cleared at once. A look of purpose flashed into hiseyes. 

"Then we'll keep eastward out to sea, sir, or a little bit to thenortheast, until we get out in the usual path of the southboundsteamers. "

"And after that?" demanded Powell Seaton, eagerly. 

"All we can do, sir, then, will be to wait until we get a wirelesscommunication with other vessels. "

"Go ahead, lad. "

Tom moved the speed control slowly, until the "Restless" went loafingalong at a speed of six miles an hour. Heading weatherward, he gavemore heed to the wheel, for there were signs that the water was goingto roughen somewhat. 

"Hank!" called the young skipper, and Butts came to the bridge deck. 

"Sound the fog-whistle every minute, " directed Halstead. 

"Too-whoo-oo-oo!" sounded the melancholy, penetrating note through themist. 

"Are you going to keep that up, Captain Halstead?" inquired Mr. Seaton, in instant apprehension. 

"Got to, sir. It's the law of the ocean in a deep fog. "

"But it signals our location to the enemy on the drab boat. "

"If it keeps the seventy-footer within sound of our horn all thetime, " laughed Halstead, "so much the better. Then the Drab will bewithin range of our marine glasses when the fog lifts. "

"It shows those rascals the direction of our course, too, " criedSeaton, in a still troubled voice. 

"We've got to observe the law, sir, even if _they_ do break it, " Tomgently urged. "That other boat's people have been acting like piratesall along, but that would be no excuse for us. What if we cut into alumber-laden schooner, and sank her at once?"

Mr. Seaton was obliged to nod his assent. 

"It's a fearfully tough piece of luck for us, this fog, " Tomcontinued, feelingly, "but we've got to make the most of it. "

"And, if Anson Dalton gets aboard any Brazil-bound steamer while we'rein this fog, the whole great game for myself and my friends is lost, "faltered Seaton. 

"If that steamer has a wireless installation, " retorted the youngmotor boat skipper, "then we've every chance in the world to reach herbefore the Drab possibly can. Joe will hear her wireless two hours ormore before the other fellows can hear or locate a fog-horn. "

"It's--it's a dreadful uncertainty that this fog puts upon us, "groaned the unhappy charter-man. "Dalton may take advantage of thiswhite shroud to run straight for the nearest post office and mail thepapers that he stole. "

Captain Tom's mildly warning look checked Mr. Seaton ere he had timeto say more in the hearing of Hepton. 

"If you'll come aft, sir, we'll talk this over, " suggested Halstead, in a low voice. 

"Gladly, " murmured the charter-man. 

"Now, then, sir, " almost whispered the motor boat skipper, as he andhis employer stood on the deck aft, "you've written out a duplicate ofthe papers that were stolen. "

"I have the duplicate set in an inside pocket, " responded Seaton, tapping his coat. 

"Are you ready to chance the mailing of them?"

"It's--it's a fearful risk, a terrible one, even to think of sendingsuch priceless papers by registered mail. "

"At least, sir, " urged Tom, "you would be sure the documents wereproperly started on their way. "

"Yet with no surety that they wouldn't fall into wrong hands at theother end, " shuddered Seaton. 

"Then, since your life would undoubtedly be the forfeit if youattempted to take the papers yourself, will you trust me, or Joe, toboard the first steamer we pick up by wireless?"

"Wh--what do you advise, Halstead?" queried Seaton, with the air andtone of a man tortured by uncertainty and hesitation. 

"I advise, sir, your making a very definite move of one kind oranother, without the loss of another hour, " rejoined young Halstead, almost sharply. "Simply drifting in a fog won't settle anything. "

"Oh, I know that only too well, " replied Powell Seaton, desperately. 

"Let us, " proposed Skipper Tom, "take a northerly course. We'll try topick up a Rio-bound steamship. Failing in that, let us put in forland, you to send the papers off by registered mail--or I'll taketrain for New York and go by the first boat. "

"I--I'll do it, " agreed Powell Seaton, falteringly. "Halstead, my boy, I've pondered and worried over this until my brain almost refuses toact. I'm glad to have your clearer brain to steady me--to guide me. "

"Are your papers sealed?" asked Captain Tom, after a little furtherthought. 

"No; but I can soon attend to that. "

"I'd go below and do it, then, sir. "

"Thank you; I will. "

Powell Seaton, as he started down the after companionway, trembled sothat compassionate Halstead aided him. Then, returning, the MotorBoat Club boy stepped steadily forward to the bridge deck. 

Studying the time, Tom determined to keep to the present course forfifteen minutes more, and at the same speed, then to head about duenorth. This, he figured, would keep him about in the path ofsouthmoving coast steamships. 

Hank, who was still at the wheel, took the orders. Joe, after a glanceat the bridge deck chronometer, dropped below on his way to hissending table. The crash of his call soon sounded at the spark-gap andquivered on its lightning way up the aerials. 

"Nothing happening in my line, " announced Dawson, soberly, when, someminutes later, he returned to deck. 

Captain Tom stood by, almost idly attending to the fog-horn, thoughButts would have been able to do that as well as steer. 

"Did you get anything at all?" Halstead inquired. 

"Nothing; not a click by way of answer, " Joe Dawson responded. "I hadhalf a hope that I might be able to pick up a ship that could relayback to another, and so on to New York. If that had happened, I wasgoing to ask the companies direct, in New York, when their next boatswould leave port. I'll do that, if I get a chance. I'm bound to knowwhen to look for the next Rio boat. "

"If this fog seems likely to last, " resumed Halstead, "I've beenthinking about increasing to ten miles and keeping right on toward NewYork. "

"Bully!" enthused Dawson. "Fine!"

"Yes; so I thought at first, but I have changed my mind. If we getwholly out of these waters we might put a messenger aboard a steamshipbound for Rio Janeiro, and then Dalton, by hanging about in thesewaters, might find a chance to board. If he suspected ourmessenger--and it may be you or I--it might be the same old Clodisincident all over again. "

Joe's face lengthened. 

"It's growing wearing, to hang about here all the time, " hecomplained. "I'm near to having operator's cramp, as it is. "

"Don't you dare!" Skipper Tom warned him. 

"Well, then, I won't, " agreed Dawson. 

For four hours more the "Restless" continued nearly due north, at thesame original speed of six miles an hour. Halstead began to think ofputting back, slowly retracing his course. Joe went down for hisregular hourly "sit" at the sending table. 

"Hurrah!" yelled Dawson, emerging from the motor room several minuteslater. 

He was waving a paper and appeared highly excited. 

"Picked up anything?" called Tom Halstead, eagerly. 

"Yes, sirree!" uttered Joe, delightedly, thrusting a paper into hischum's hand. "The Jepson freight liner, 'Glide, ' is making an extratrip out of schedule. Here's her position, course and gait. We oughtto be up to her within two and a half hours. "

Tom himself took the news to Powell Seaton. That gentleman, on hearingthe word, leaped from the lower berth in the port stateroom. 

"Glorious!" he cried, his eyes gleaming feverishly as he hustled intoan overcoat. 

Then he whispered, in a lower voice:

"Tom Halstead, you're--you're--It!"

"Eh?" demanded the young motor boat skipper. 

"You'll take the papers on to Rio!"

A gleam lit up Halstead's eyes. Yet, in another instant he felt asense of downright regret. He was not afraid of any dangers that thetrip might involve, but he hated the thought of being weeks away fromthis staunch, trim little craft of which he was captain andhalf-owner. 

"All right, sir, " he replied, though without enthusiasm. "I'llundertake it--I'll go to Rio for you. "

CHAPTER XVII

WHEN THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB BOYS "WENT DAFFY"

All this had been spoken in whispers. Both Mr. Seaton and Tom Halsteadwere keenly aware of the presence of the prisoner in the starboardstateroom. 

"You don't seem as overjoyed as I thought you might be, " observedPowell Seaton, in a tone of disappointment. 

"I'm going through for you, sir, and I'll deliver the papers into theproper hands, if I live, " replied Tom Halstead. 

"And you're not afraid of the big chances of danger that you may berunning?" persisted his employer. 

"Why, I believe every human being has times when he's afraid, " SkipperTom replied, honestly. "But I shan't be any more afraid than you'veseen me once or twice since this cruise began. "

"Then I'll bet on your success, " rejoined Mr. Seaton, holding out hishand, which the young motor boat captain grasped. 

"Suppose we go on deck where we can talk a little more safely, sir, "whispered Tom. 

They made their way above and forward. 

"Any further word, Dawson?" inquired the charter-man. 

"I haven't signaled since I brought up that last message, " Joereplied. 

"Oh, of course not, " retorted Powell Seaton. "It was an idioticquestion for me to ask, but I'm so excited, boys, that I don't pretendto know altogether what I'm talking about. "

Captain Halstead bent forward to look at the compass. He found HankButts steering as straight as the needle itself pointed. 

"What on earth can I do to pass the time of waiting?" wondered Mr. Seaton, feverishly. 

"Eat, " laughed Tom. "You haven't had a meal since I don't know when. Give me the wheel, Hank, and see what you can fix up for Mr. Seaton inthe way of food. "

Yet, poking along at that slow rate of speed, cutting through the fogbut not able to see a boat's length ahead, proved an ordeal thattested the patience of all. 

After awhile Joe returned to the sending table, in order to get intouch with the "Glide" and make sure that the two vessels were stillapproaching each other head-on. 

"It's wonderful--wonderful, this wireless telegraph that keeps all thegreat ships and many of the small ones in constant communication, "declared Powell Seaton, coming up on deck after having finished hismeal. "Yet it seems odd, doesn't it, to think of even freight boatscarrying a wireless installation?"

"Not when you stop to consider the value of the freight steamships, and the value of their cargoes, " rejoined Tom Halstead. "If a ship atsea gets into any trouble, where in older times she would have beenlost, now all she has to do is to signal to other vessels within twoor three hundred miles, and relief is sent on its way to the ship thatneeds it. In the case of a freight steamer the wireless aboard meansgreater safety for the crew and often saves the owners the cost ofship and cargo. The Standard Oil people were among the first to thinkof the wireless for cargo-carrying boats. They installed the wirelesson their tank steamers, and it wasn't long before the owners of otherfreight vessels realized the value of such an installation. Now, everyfreight boat that amounts to much has the wireless aboard. "

"You speak of the wireless being used at a distance of two or threehundred miles, " pursued the charter-man. "Dawson can't send theelectric wave that far, can he?"

"No, sir; because our signal mast is shorter than that on a bigsteamship. The length of our aerials is less. Still, we can handle amessage for a pretty good distance. "

"What distance, Halstead?"

"Why, our ideal distance is about sixty miles; we can make it seventyeasily, and, under the best conditions, we can drive a message, sothat it can be understood, for about ninety miles. But that doesn'treally hold us down to even ninety miles. If there's a wireless shipwithin our radius we can ask her to relay for us. With a few shipsspread out at proper intervals we could easily wire direct from the'Restless' to the coast of England. "

"Joe, " called Tom to his chum as the latter came on deck betweenwireless performances, "do you notice that the fog is lightening offto weatherward?"

"Yes; the fog is heaviest off to westward, and we've been working outof that. "

"By the time we reach the 'Glide' I believe we're going to have someopen weather around us. "

"It will be fine if we do, " nodded young Dawson. "It's nasty workgoing up alongside of a big ship when you can't see fifty feet away. "

As they watched and waited, while the "Restless" stole slowly along, the fog about them became steadily lighter, though off to the westwardit remained a thick, dense bank. 

"Say, it'd be great to have four or five miles of clear sea around us, so that we could see whether the seventy-foot boat has kept toanything like our course, " declared Hank. 

At last the "Restless" came to within twenty minutes' hailing distanceof the "Glide, " as the young motor boat skipper figured it. Then, afew minutes later, a deep-toned fog-horn came to them faintly. As theminutes passed, now, this blast became heavier and nearer. 

"I've only a few minutes left with you, Joe, old chum, " declaredCaptain Tom, with a half-sigh. "You'll take great, good care of thedear old craft, I know, while I'm gone. "

"As soon as Mr. Seaton is done with the boat I'll tie her up until youget back--that's what I'll do, " grunted Dawson. "No sailing without askipper for me. "

"You needn't look so bad about it, Cap, " grinned Hepton. "I wish itwas me, cut out for a long trip to Rio and back. Maybe I wouldn't jumpat such a chance. Some folks are born lucky!"

Too-woo-oo!

The oncoming steamship's deep fog-horn sounded loud and sullen, now. Tom Halstead, still at the wheel, was peering constantly forward forthe first glimpse of the freighter, for the fog had lightened much bythis time. 

"There she is!" hailed keen-eyed Joe, on the lookout for this sight. "You can just make out her bow poking up through the fog. She must bea thousand feet off yet. "

With two boats approaching each other, this distance was, of course, quickly covered. Finding that he could see the other craft at such adistance, Skipper Tom threw on a little more speed, making a wide turnand so coming up alongside on a parallel course. 

"Take the wheel, Hank, " directed the young skipper, seizing themegaphone and stepping to the port rail. 

"'Glide, ' ahoy!" bawled Halstead through the megaphone. 

"'Restless, ' ahoy!" came back from the freighter's bridge. 

"Lie to and let us come alongside, won't you? We want to put apassenger aboard. "

"Passenger? Where for?"

"Rio, of course. That's where you're bound, isn't it?"

"You'll have to be mighty quick about it, " came the emphatic answer. "We can't afford stops on our way. "

"We may want to delay you a few minutes, " began Tom. 

"Few minutes, nothing!" came the gruff retort. "We can't be held up inthat fashion. "

"We can pay for all the trouble we put you to, " retorted Halstead. Powell Seaton produced and waved a bulky wad of banknotes. 

"Oh, if you want to pay extra, above the fare, it'll be a littledifferent, " came, in mollified tones, from the bridge. The captain ofthe "Glide" was now much more accommodating. The fare received from apassenger put aboard in mid-sea would go to the owners of thefreighter. But any extra money, paid for "trouble, " would be so muchin the pocket of the "Glide's" sailing-master. 

Several new faces appeared at the rail of the freighter, as that bigcraft slowed down and one of her mates superintended the work oflowering the side gangway. 

"Hullo, lobster-smack!" roared one derisive voice above thefreighter's rail. 

"Say, " called another voice, jeeringly, "it may be all right to golobster-fishing, but it's no sort of good business to leave one ofyour catch of lobsters in command of even a smack like that!"

Tom Halstead reddened angrily. One of his fists clenched unconsciouslyas he shot a wrathful look upward at the rail. 

"Say, you mentally-dented pilot of a fourth-rate peanut roaster of aboat, do you go by craft you know without ever giving a hail?"demanded a mocking voice, that of the first derisive speaker. 

Standing at the rail of the "Restless, " Tom Halstead almost droppedthe megaphone overboard from the sheer stagger of joy that caughthim. 

"Hey, you Ab! You worthless Ab Perkins!" roared the young motor boatskipper, in huge delight. "And you, Dick Davis!"

The two who stood at the "Glide's" rail overhead, and who had calleddown so mockingly, stood in uniform caps and coats identical withthose worn by Halstead and his mates aboard the motor boat. They worethem with right, too, for Perkins and Davis were two of the mostfamous of the many youngsters who now composed the Motor Boat Club ofthe Kennebec. 

"Hey! What's this?" roared the usually quiet Joe Dawson, his facewreathed in smiles. He almost danced a jig. 

Hank Butts had never before seen either Davis or Perkins, but he knewabout them, all right. He knew that uniform, too, the same that hewore. 

"Now, then--altogether!" yelled Hank. "Give it with a roar, boys!"

Powell Seaton stared in bewildered amazement. So did officers, crewand others at the "Glide's" rail and on her bridge. 

For five lusty young Americans, all wearing the same uniform, allbronzed deeply with the tan that comes of the gale and the sun, allkeen-eyed, quick and sure as tars ever are, roared in mighty chorus:

"M-B-C-K! M-B-C-K! Motor Boat Club! WOW!"

CHAPTER XVIII

THE FIRST KINK OF THE PROBLEM SOLVED

Again the roaring chorus rang out. 

"What's this? College boys' joke on me, or a floating mad-house?"huskily roared down the freighter's captain from the bridge. 

"It's all right, captain, " sang back Tom Halstead. "We'll make itplain to you as soon as we get a chance. We're neither as bad nor asdangerous as we seem. "

The "Glide's" headway had all but ceased by this time, and the sidegangway was at last in place. The "Restless" was run in close, whileHank stood up on the top of the forward deck-house with a coil ofline, waiting until it came time to leap across onto the platform ofthe freighter's gangway and make the line fast. 

As quickly as the line was secured Captain Tom Halstead followedButts, and dashed on past him up the steps of the gangway. Ab and Dickcame down to meet him, each grabbing one of the young skipper's handsand wringing it. 

Then they turned to give the same greeting to Joe Dawson, who gasped:

"Gracious, but it _does_ seem good to meet fellows of the Club andfrom the old home town at that!"

Mr. Seaton, though following in more leisurely fashion, now passedthem, going on up to the deck. There he met Captain Rawley. 

"Don't mind what my young men do, captain, " begged the charter-man, "and don't mind if they delay you for a few minutes. I'll make goodthe damage. "

"Help yourself to a little of my time, then, sir, " grimaced thefreighter's captain. "Anything that I can spare from the proper timeof the run, you understand. "

"How on earth do you fellows happen to be on this ship, of all placesin the world?" demanded Tom Halstead. 

"Easy enough to explain, " laughed Dick Davis. "Port authorities at Riowere good enough to order six motor boats for harbor purposes. My dadgot the chance of building the boats at his yard at Bath. The Riomotor boats are on board, down in the hold, and Ab and I are sentalong to deliver the motor boats, put them in running order at Rio, and, if necessary, teach the natives how to run such craft. "

"Did you fellows know we were signaling you by wireless?" Joe wasasking Ab Perkins. "Did you know that you were going to see us?"

"Didn't know a blessed thing about it, " admitted Ab Perkins, almostsheepishly. "Dick and I were asleep in our stateroom. We were gettingready to come out on deck when we felt the old tub slackening speed. Then we came out to see what was happening. We looked over the rail, and--_wow_!"

Ab again seized Joe Dawson's hand, giving it another mighty shake. Then the irrepressible Ab reached out for Tom's hand, but Dick Daviswas drawing Halstead up on deck. 

Readers of the first volume of this series will remember both Ab andDick well. They, too, were boys born near the Kennebec River, and tookpart in the stirring adventures narrated in THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB OF THEKENNEBEC, just before Tom and Joe left for the next scenes of theiractivities, as related in THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AT NANTUCKET and THEMOTOR BOAT CLUB OFF LONG ISLAND. Ab Perkins and Dick Davis were two ofthe most valued of the early members of the Club. 

All in a twinkling, Tom Halstead was seized by an idea. He lookedabout for Powell Seaton, saw that gentleman talking with CaptainRawley, and caught the charter-man's eye. 

"See here, Mr. Seaton, " whispered Halstead, as soon as he had gottenhis employer aside, "there's no great need for me to go to Rio. "

"No?"

"Of course not. Give the papers to Dick Davis, with exact instructionsas to who is to receive them at Rio Janeiro, and those papers will getinto exactly the hands for which you intend them. "

"You feel certain of that, Halstead?" demanded Powell Seaton, hisvoice tremulous with anxiety. 

"Absolutely sure, sir. Dick Davis can be trusted as long the worldholds together. There isn't the faintest yellow streak in him, either. Square, straight, keen, brave--that's Dick Davis. And Ab Perkins wouldgo through the jaws of anything with Davis! Why, Mr. Seaton, they'reMotor Boat Club boys! You can trust them to the same degree as you'rewilling to trust me. Moreover, they're going down to Rio on a missionto the Government. They've got a better chance to get ashore, unmolested and unwatched, than any other stranger would have. "

"Get your friends together, then, somewhere where we can have aprivate corner, " begged Powell Seaton. "We'll talk this matterover--we've got to talk like lightning, at that. "

While Mr. Seaton sought Captain Rawley, Tom shot back along the deckto where Joe, Hank and the two Rio-bound members of the Motor BoatClub stood talking. 

"Hank, " said Tom, in a low voice, "Hepton is all alone down on the'Restless, ' except for our prisoner aft. Hepton may be all right, andI think he is--but one of our own crowd ought to be on board ourboat. "

"I'll be the one, then, " half-sighed Hank Butts, turning to descendthe side gangway. 

Captain Rawley promptly agreed to turn his own cabin over to thefriends who wanted a private chat. 

"But only for five minutes, mind you, " he insisted. "Then I must be onmy way. "

Behind the closed door of the captain's room Powell Seaton and TomHalstead swiftly explained what was wanted. 

"Will we do it?" said Dick Davis, repeating the question that had beenasked him. "Why, of course we will. There's only one answer possible. Tom Halstead is fleet captain of the Motor Boat Club, and a requestfrom Captain Tom is the same thing as an order. "

"You will go straight to the American consulate at Rio Janeiro, then, "directed Mr. Seaton. "From the consulate you will send a messenger tobring to you Shipley D. Jarvis, whose address is the American Club. The American consul will be able to assure you that it is Shipley D. Jarvis who comes to you. You will turn over these papers to Mr. Jarvisin the presence of the American consul. A letter from me is in theenvelope with the papers. That is all, except----"

After a brief pause Mr. Seaton went on to caution Dick Davis and AbPerkins as to the dangers against which they must guard on the way. This Tom Halstead supplemented with an exact description of AnsonDalton and of Captain Dave Lemly, of the now seized "Black Betty. "

"Either, or both, of the rascals may board this ship a little furtheralong, " cautioned Mr. Seaton. "Night and day you must be on your guardagainst them. "

Then Tom Halstead quickly outlined to Davis a system of apparentlycommon-place wireless messages by means of which Davis might be ableto keep Mr. Seaton informed of the state of affairs, for some days tocome, on board the "Glide. "

Some further last instructions were added. Powell Seaton wound up byforcing a few banknotes into the hands of both these unexpectedmessengers. 

"Wait until we've succeeded, " proposed Dick Davis. 

"This is for expense money, for sending wireless messages, and otherthings, " replied Mr. Seaton. "Your real reward will come later on. "

"When we've succeeded, " nodded Davis. 

So much time had been taken up by this talk that now all had to stepout on deck. 

"We're ready to go aboard our boat, sir, " Skipper Tom reported. 

"You and Dawson go, Halstead, " nodded Mr. Seaton. "I want not morethan sixty seconds with Captain Rawley in his own room. "

When the charter-man of the "Restless" came out once more the thickpile of banknotes in his pocket had grown a good deal thinner, butCaptain Rawley had been enlisted as a friend to the cause. 

"Good-bye, old chums, " cried Dick Davis, gripping a hand of Tom andJoe with each of his own. 

"Good-bye! Good luck now, and all the way through life!" murmured Tom, earnestly, and with a hidden meaning that Davis caught. 

As speedily as Tom and Joe had assisted Powell Seaton aboard themotor boat, Hank cast off, while the crew of the "Glide" began toraise the side gangway. 

There were more rousing farewells between the two groups of Motor BoatClub boys. Then the hoarse whistle of the "Glide" sounded, and thefreighter began to go ahead at half-speed. 

The "Restless" fell away and astern, yet she followed the freighter. That she should do so had been understood with Captain Rawley, andwith Dick and Ab. Powell Seaton intended to keep the "Glide" withinsight for at least thirty-six hours, if possible, in order to makesure that the seventy-foot drab boat did not attempt to put AnsonDalton or any other messenger on board. 

"If we stick to the sea for a hundred years, Joe, " laughed SkipperTom, as he followed the bigger craft at a distance of eight hundredfeet, "nothing as lucky as this is likely to happen again. I wasafraid I was booked for Rio, for sure, and it made me heartsick tothink of leaving the 'Restless' so long and living aboard a big tub ofan ordinary, steam-propelled ship!"

"I've taken the step, now, and can't very well change it, " declaredMr. Seaton, who looked both pale and thoughtful. "Halstead, all I canhope and pray for is that your comrades on the ship ahead are asclever and watchful, as brave and honest as you think. "

"If wondering about Dick and Ab is all that ever worries me, " laughedTom Halstead, easily, "I don't believe I shall ever have any wrinkles. I know those boys, Mr. Seaton. We were born and raised in the samelittle Maine seacoast town, and I'd trust that pair with the errand ifit were my own diamond field at stake. "

The fog had lifted sufficiently, by this time, so that clear visionwas to be had for at least a quarter of a mile. 

Skipper Tom whistled as he handled the wheel. Joe Dawson was sorelieved in mind that, after a careful look at the motors, he threwhimself upon one of the berths opposite and dozed. Hank put in histime looking after preparations for supper. 

"What ails you, Halstead?" demanded Seaton, pausing abruptly besidethe young skipper. 

For the boy had turned, suddenly, to a sickly pallor. 

"It has just struck me, sir, " confessed the young motor boat skipper, "that, if Dalton has the slightest suspicion of what we've done tooutwit him, he's just the man who will be desperate enough to put hiswhole set of papers in at the nearest cable office for direct sendingto Rio Janeiro!"

CHAPTER XIX

HELPLESS IN THE NORTHEASTER!

"I've already thought of that, " nodded Powell Seaton. 

"And it doesn't worry you, sir--doesn't make you anxious?" questionedCaptain Tom Halstead. 

"No. Of course, Dalton might cable the full contents of the papers. Ifthe paper could fall only into Governor Terrero's hands it would bewell worth the cable tolls. But if such a cablegram were sent, openly, to Terrero, or one of his representatives, it would have to go, firstof all, through the hands of the Government officials who have chargeof the cable. "

"But couldn't Terrero fix that?" asked Halstead. 

"No; Rio is out of his state, and beyond the sphere of his strongestinfluence. Now, if I were to land in Rio Janeiro, I would be arrestedon a warrant issued by Terrero's judges, up in the state of Vahia, andI would have to go to Vahia for trial. Undoubtedly Terrero's rascallyofficers would shoot me on the way, and report that I had tried toescape. "

"Then what harm could it do to Terrero's chances for Dalton to sendhim the cablegram direct?"

"Why, either the cable officials in Rio are very great rascals, orelse they are honest officials. If they are rascals, they might holdthe cablegram long enough to act for themselves on the information itcontained. On the other hand, if they are honest officials, then theywould undoubtedly notify the Government of such a stupendous piece ofnews. The Government would then very likely take charge of my diamondfield itself, which would be wholly legal, for the Government alreadyowns many, if not the greater number, of the producing diamond fieldsof that country. So, if the Government, acting on information from itscable officials, took possession of the news and of the diamond field, what good would the cablegram do Governor Terrero? No; you may be verysure that Dalton won't send the contents of the papers by cablegram. He undoubtedly has the strongest orders from Terrero against doingthat. "

"I feel better, then, " Tom admitted. "For the moment it came over me, like a thunderbolt, that Dalton might nip all our work in the bud bysending a cablegram. Still, couldn't he send it by code?"

"No; for only the ordinary codes can go through the Brazilian cableoffices, and the Government officers have the keys to all the codesthat are allowed. Rest easy, Halstead; Dalton won't attempt to use thecable. "

"Then, if he doesn't get aboard the 'Glide, ' we'll beat him out toBrazil--that's the surest thing in the world!" cried Tom, with as muchenthusiasm as though the great fortune at stake were his own. 

They were still following in the wake of the "Glide. " Once in a whileDick Davis or Ab Perkins had the operator on the freighter flash backa wireless message of a friendly, personal nature. Joe answered allthese. 

For thirty-six hours this pleasant stern-chase lasted. By night thehelmsman of the "Restless" kept the searchlight enough in use to makesure that the drab boat did not appear. 

"Dalton and Lemly lost the 'Glide, ' if they were looking for her, inthe fog, " chuckled Halstead, in huge satisfaction. "Any Rio-bound boatthey can catch now is hopelessly to the rear of the 'Glide, ' Ireckon. "

Joe, by wiring back, and asking other wireless vessels to relay, fromtime to time, had ascertained that there was no other steam vessel, bound for Rio, in close pursuit. 

Mr. Seaton took his trick at the wheel occasionally. So did Hepton. Joe gave most of his time to the wireless installation, though hemaintained charge of the motors, Hank doing most of the work there. All had sleep enough during the cruise south. Joe used some of hisspare time in carrying out his former plan of connecting the wirelesstable with the helmsman by means of a speaking tube. 

They were well down the coast of Florida when even anxious PowellSeaton declared that there was no need of cruising longer in the wakeof the "Glide. " He felt certain that the freighter had entirely eludedthe vigilance of those on board the drab boat. 

By this time the supply of gasoline was nearly out. Tom had cautionedthe charter-man that so long a run would use up about the last oftheir oil. There was, however, a small sail fitted to the signal mast. Now, when the crew of the "Restless" turned back, the sail was hoistedand power shut off. 

"We've oil enough to run perhaps three-quarters of an hour, sir, " theyoung skipper explained. "We'll have to use that up in making portwhen we get in sight. "

Sailing aboard the "Restless" proved lazy work at the outset. Withthis small sail there was not wind enough to carry the boat at muchmore than two miles per hour on her northwest course for the nearestFlorida town where gasoline was likely to be had. 

"We'll have a jolly long sail of it, " laughed Skipper Tom, "unless thewind should freshen. "

"Well, we don't care, " smiled Mr. Seaton. "At least, you won't beoverworked. And our minds are easier--mine especially. "

"All of us have easier minds, " Halstead retorted. "Don't youunderstand, sir, that the rest of us have taken this whole business toheart? We couldn't be more concerned than we are to see the affairs ofour charter parties come through all right. "

"Oh, I believe that, " nodded Powell Seaton. "You boys have been thestrongest sort of personal friends to me in my troubles. You couldn'tpossibly have made my affairs, and my dangers, more thoroughly yourown troubles. "

Two hours later a wireless message came back from the "Glide. " It wasfrom Dick Davis, and couched in vague terms, but meant to inform thoseaboard the "Restless" that the drab seventy-footer was still out ofsight. An hour after that a second message reached the motor boat. Soon after the "Restless" found herself unable to answer, though stillable to receive. 

"Hank, are you feeling particularly strong to-day?" inquired Mr. Seaton. 

"I'm always strong, sir, " replied the young steward. 

"Then why not rack your pantry stores in order to supply the biggestthing in a meal for all hands this evening? I feel more like eatingthan I have any day in a month. "

"You'd have to go to a sure-enough number-one hotel to find a bettermeal than I'll put up for this evening, " retorted Hank, grinninggleefully, as he started for the galley. 

In such lazy weather Tom Halstead felt that he could go below for anap, especially as Joe was around. Hepton was left at the wheel. Tomspeedily closed his eyes in one of the soundest naps he had enjoyed inmany a day. He was awakened by Hank, who came into the stateroom andshook him by the shoulder. 

"Weather's all right, up to now, " Butts informed the young captain. "Still, we don't like the looks of the sky, and the barometer isbeginning to show signs of being eccentric. Won't you come up on deckfor a minute, anyway?"

Tom was out of his berth in a twinkling. There was enough of thesea-captain in him for that. The instant he reached the deck his gazeswept around anxiously, inquiringly, at the sky. 

"The clouds up on the northeast horizon don't look exactly friendly, do they?" he inquired of Joe. 

"Don't know, " replied Dawson. "Haven't seen enough of them yet. "

"I'm thinking you will, soon, " replied Halstead. "How's the windbeen?"

"From the east, sir, " replied Hepton, who was at the wheel. 

"It's working around to northeast, now, " muttered Halstead. "And itwas almost from the south when I turned in. "

Tom stood by the barometer, watching it. 

"Trouble coming, " he said, briefly. 

Within half an hour his prediction began to be verified. The darkish, "muddy" clouds first seen on the northeast horizon were looming uprapidly, the wind now driving steadily from that quarter. Even withall the smallness of her single sail the "Restless" was heeling overconsiderably to port. 

"Lay along here, Hank, and help me to put a double reef in the sail, "Tom ordered. "I don't want this little bit of canvas blown away fromus. "

As Tom called, he eased off the sheet, and Hepton lounged away fromthe wheel. 

"Too bad, " muttered Hank Butts. "We've been making a good four knotssince the wind freshened. "

"I'm out of a guess if there isn't a wind coming that'd take a sailout of its fastenings in ten seconds, " rejoined Halstead, workingindustriously with the reeves. 

A light squall struck them before the boys had finished their task. 

"A September northeaster along this coast is no laughing matter, fromall I've heard of it, " Tom explained as the two boys took the lasthitches. "Now, come on, Hank. We'll hoist her. "

With long rhythmic pulls at the halyards Tom and Butts got theshortened sail up, making all secure. 

"You'd better take the wheel, Joe, " sang out the young skipper. "Hepton, stand by to give a hand if the helm moves hard. "

"You seem rather excited over a pleasant breeze like this, " observedPowell Seaton. 

"Wait, " said Tom, quietly. "I only hope I am taking too muchprecaution. I've never handled a boat along the Florida coast before, you know, sir, so it's best to err on the side of caution. "

Hank was sent off on the jump, now, to make everything secure, whileSkipper Tom took his place on the bridge deck at starboard to watchthe weather. 

"I guess there'll be time, now, Hank, to rig life lines on the bridgedeck, " hinted Halstead, coolly. "Never mind about any aft. Whoevergoes below can go through the motor room. "

Catching a look full of meaning in the young commander's eye, Buttshustled about his new task. 

"You seem to be making very serious preparations, " suggested PowellSeaton, seriously. 

"Nothing like being a fool on the wise side, " answered Skipper Tom, calmly. 

Within ten minutes more the wind had freshened a good deal, and the"Restless" was bending over considerably to port, running well, indeed, considering her very small spread of canvas. 

Now, the sky became darker. The weather was like that on shore inautumn when the birds are seen scurrying to cover just before thestorm breaks. 

"I reckon there's going to be something close to trouble, after all, "observed Powell Seaton, when it became necessary for him to hold hishat on. 

Tom nodded in a taciturn way, merely saying:

"If you're going to stay on deck, Mr. Seaton, you'd better put on acap, or a sou'wester. "

Mr. Seaton started below, through the motor room. While he was stillthere the gale struck, almost without further warning. 

"Watch the wind and ease off a bit, Joe, " bawled Skipper Halstead inhis chum's ear. 

Joe Dawson nodded slightly. The gale was now upon them with such furythat making one's self heard was something like work. 

Despite the prompt easing by the helm, the "Restless" bowled over agood deal as the crest of the first in-rolling wave hit her. 

Powell Seaton, a cap on his head, appeared at the motor room hatchway. Tom motioned him to remain where he was. 

Clutching at the rail, Tom Halstead kept his face turned weatherwardmost of the time. He knew, now, that a fifty-five-foot boat like the"Restless, " weather-staunch though she was, was going to have aboutall she could do in the sea that would be running in a few minutesmore. 

Nor did he make any mistake about that. A darkness that was almostinky settled down over them. Bending through the hatchway, the youngsailing master yelled to Powell Seaton to switch on the runninglights. 

"For we'll need 'em mighty soon, if we don't now, " Captain Tom added. 

Hank reappeared with rain-coats, and with his own on. Hardly had thoseon deck so covered themselves when, accompanied by a vivid flash oflightning and a crashing peal of thunder, the rain came down uponthem. At first there were a few big drops. Then, the gale increasing, the rain came in drenching sheets. The decks began to run water, almost choking the scuppers. 

The heeling of the "Restless" was no longer especially noticeable. Shewas rolling and pitching in every direction, accompanied by astraining and creaking of timbers. 

Powell Seaton, standing below, clutching for support, and not much ofa sailor at best, began to feel decidedly scared. 

"Are we going to be able to weather this, Captain Halstead?" he yelledup, as the young skipper paused close by the hatchway. 

Though the noise of the now furious gale prevented Tom from making outthe words very clearly, he knew, by instinct, almost, what had beenasked of him. 

"Weather the gale, sir?" Tom bawled down, hoarsely. "Of course! We'vegot to!"

There was a new sound that made the young sailing master jump, thenquiver. With a great tearing and rending the single canvas gave waybefore the roaring gale. In a trice the sail was blown to flutteringribbons!

CHAPTER XX

"C. Q. D! C. Q. D. !--HELP!"

"Lay along with me, Hank!" bawled the young skipper, hoarsely, in thesteward's ear. "We've got to cut away what's left of the sail. "

Neither helmsman could wisely be spared. Though the boat now had nopower of her own she was being driven sharply before the gale, andsome fine handling of the wheel was needed in order to keep the boatso headed that she might wallow as little as possible in the trough ofthe sea. 

Nor was the work of the young captain and Hank Butts anything likeplay. Making their way out along the top of the cabin deck-house wasin itself hazardous. They were forced to clutch at any rigging thatcame to hand to avoid being washed overboard, for the waves weredashing furiously over the helpless boat. 

It was not much of a task to haul in the sheet, making fast. Then, using their sailor's knives, they slashed away. 

It was needful for one of them to go aloft. 

"I can do it, " proposed Hank, summoning all his courage. 

"I know you can, " Tom bawled in his ear. "But I'm not going to sendanyone where I wouldn't go myself. It's mine to go aloft. "

Thrusting his knife securely into the sheath at the end of itslanyard, Tom Halstead began to climb. Hank watched him closely. Thepair at the wheel had no time to observe. All their attention wasneeded on their own work. 

As he climbed, Tom Halstead had a sensation of being in danger ofbeing pitched overboard. 

Next, as the "Restless" lay over harder than she had yet done, itseemed as though the mast were bent on touching the water. Halsteadhad to halt in his climbing, satisfied to hold on for dear life. 

"Oh, if we only had enough gasoline aboard!" groaned the youngskipper, regretfully. "It would be a tough storm, even then, thoughnothing like as bad as this!"

As the boat partially righted herself, he went on with his climbing. At length he found himself where he could bring his knife into play, slashing away the fragments of the wind-torn canvas. When the work wasdone Halstead let himself to the deck again, half-expecting that theforce of the pitching and fury of the gale would catch him and sweephim over into the dark, raging waters. 

Yet he reached the deck in safety, finding himself beside Hank Butts, who, by this time, looked more like some water-logged thing than anatty steward. 

"Come on below to the sail-locker, " roared Captain Tom in the otherboy's ear. "Be careful to hold to the life lines and go slow when theboat heels over. We'll get the new sail out and rig it--if we can. "

Hepton, seeing them coming, made a sign to Joe, who stood doggedlybraced at the wheel. Joe did all he could--it was little enough--toswing the boat's head a trifle so that she would ride more easily, ifpossible, in that terrible sea. 

Slowly Tom and Hank made their way to the motor room door and slippeddown below. There Powell Seaton, his face white, confronted them. 

"Captain, this is awful. I don't see how the 'Restless' rides such asea at all. "

"She'd not only ride but steer well, sir, if we had gasoline enough torun her by her propellers, " Halstead shouted back. "I'd go all the wayto Havana in a gale like this if I could use the twin propellers. The'Restless' is a sea boat, and she can't sink unless the watertightcompartments are smashed. "

"But she can turn over and ride keel upward, can't she?" demanded Mr. Seaton, with a ghastly grin. 

"She can, sir, if she heels enough, " Tom admitted. "But that's whyJoe's at the wheel--because we need a fellow who can make the most outof such headway as the force of wind and waves gives us. And now, sir, Hank and I must try to rig a new sail. "

Out of the sail-locker they dragged the new canvas. It was all inreadiness for rigging. In calm weather they could have done thisreadily--but now? Only time could tell. 

"Lend 'em a hand, Hepton!" roared Joe, as he saw the young captain andhelper appear with the bulky canvas. 

It was all the three of them could do, in the rolling, high seas inwhich the "Restless" pitched like a chip of wood, to get that sail ontop of the cabin deck-house. Bit by bit they rigged it in place, working fast, straining muscle and sinew to hold the sail against thegale that strove to carry the canvas overboard. At last, they had itin place, ready for hoisting. 

"Stand by to hoist, " sang out Captain Tom. "The two of you. Go slow!I'll watch for trouble as you shake it out. "

All the reefs had been taken in the sail before hoisting. Tom Halsteadhad made up his mind to be satisfied with just a showing of canvas tocatch the high wind--enough to keep the boat steady. 

As the sail went up, flapping wildly in the breeze, Halstead began tohave his doubts whether it would last long. It was their last chance, however, for the control of the "Restless. "

"Lay along here!" roared Tom, through his hands as a trumpet, when hesaw that they had made the halyards fast. Now he signed to them tohelp him haul in on the sheet. Joe, watching, just making out thewhite of the canvas through the darkness, threw the wheel over to makethe craft catch the wind. In a few moments more the gale was tuggingagainst the small spread of canvas, and the "Restless" was once moreunder control--while the sail lasted!

All but exhausted, the trio found their way forward. For a brief spacethey tumbled below into the motor room, though Halstead stood where hecould see Joe Dawson and spring to his aid when needed. 

"Hank, " called Halstead, five minutes later, "your trick and mine ondeck. We'll give Joe and Hepton a chance to get their wind below. "

Small as was the spread of canvas, Tom found, when he took the wheel, that the good little "Restless" was plunging stiffly along on hercourse. She was a wonderfully staunch little boat. The young sailingmaster bewailed his luck in having hardly any gasoline on board. Itshould never happen again, he promised himself. 

Again? Was there to be any "again"? The motor boat captain was by nomeans blind to the fact that the "Restless" hadn't quite an evenchance of weathering this stiff gale. At any moment the sail might goby the board in ribbons, as the first had done. Hank was not evenwatching the sail. If it gave way it must. 

Joe presently came on deck for his next trick at the wheel. Hepton waswith him. 

"I've been thinking about the prisoner in the starboard stateroom, "announced Joe. "It's inhuman to leave him there, locked in andhandcuffed, in such a gale. He must be enduring fearful torment. "

"Yes, " nodded Tom. "I've just been thinking that I must go down andset him free as soon as I'm relieved. "

"Go along, then, " proposed young Dawson. "I have the wheel, and Heptonby me. "

Taking Hank Butts with him, Tom Halstead made his way below. 

"Dawson was just speaking to me about our prisoner, " began PowellSeaton. "Dawson thinks he ought to be turned loose--at least whilethis gale lasts. "

"Yes, " nodded Captain Halstead. "I'm on my way to do it now. "

"Will it be safe?"

"We can't help whether it is, or not, " Skipper Tom rejoined. "It's ahumane thing to do, and we'll have to do it. "

Powell Seaton did not interpose any further objections. It would havebeen of little moment if he had, for, on the high seas, the ship'scommander is the sole judge of what is to be done. 

Even below decks, going through the electric-lighted passage andcabin, Tom and Hank made their way with not a little difficulty. Theypaused, at last, before the starboard stateroom door, and Tom fittedthe key in the lock. 

Jasper, the man locked within, faced them with affrighted gaze. 

"We're going to the bottom?" he demanded, hoarsely, tremulously. Hisvery evident terror gave the young skipper a new idea. 

"Are you prepared to go to the bottom, Jasper?" demanded Halstead. 

"Am I fit to die, do you mean?" asked the man, with a strange, sicklygrin. "No, sir; I'm not. At least, not until I've cleared myself bytelling a few truths. "

"Come out into the cabin, man, " ordered Halstead, leading him. "Now, sit down, and I'll get your handcuffs off. "

The young captain of the "Restless" unlocked the irons about thefellow's wrists. Jasper stretched his hands, flexing his wrists. 

"Now, I can swim, anyway, though I don't believe it will do muchgood, " he declared. 

"No; it won't do much good, " Halstead assented. "We're something morethan forty miles off the coast. But what do you want to say? What's onyour mind? Be quick, man, for we must be on deck again in a jiffy. Idon't want to lose my boat while I'm below with a rascal like you. "

"I haven't always been a rascal, " retorted Jasper, hanging his head. "At least, I have been fairly straight, until the other day. "

"What have you been doing for Dalton and Lemly?" demanded TomHalstead, fixing his gaze sternly on the frightened fellow. 

"Never anything for Dalton, " whined Jasper. 

"Well, for Lemly, then?"

"Oh, I've been snooping about a bit, for two years or so, getting tipsfor Dave Lemly. "

"What has Lemly been smuggling in the 'Black Betty' all this time?"

"Diamonds, " admitted Jasper, sullenly. 

Tom Halstead felt like giving a great start, but controlled himself. 

"Smuggling diamonds under Anson Dalton's orders, eh?" insisted theyoung skipper. 

"Yes; I reckon so. "

"How did you come into our matter--as a guard and a traitor?"

"I was on hand when Mr. Seaton was getting his guards together, "replied Jasper. "So was Dave Lemly's mate. The mate told me to jump inand get my chance with the guard. "

"What other orders did you have?"

"I was to watch my chance to do anything nasty that I could, "confessed the fellow, hanging his head. 

"That was why you tried to ruin our aerials?"

"Yes. "

"You also listened to Mr. Seaton and myself, the night we were goingover to Lonely Island?"

Jasper squirmed, his face growing more ashen. 

"You heard what was said about papers hidden in a cupboard at thebungalow. Did you? Answer me, confound you!"

With an appearance of utter rage Tom bounded at the fellow, as thoughabout to attack him. Hank closed in, to be ready in case the attackturned out to be a genuine one. 

"Yes, I stole an envelope full of papers, " admitted Jasper. 

"What did you do with them?"

"I turned them over to Dave Lemly. "

"Where? On Lonely Island?"

"Yes; Lemly visited the island twice, at night, while I was on dutythere, " confessed the fellow, whining and letting his head falllower. 

"What else have you done against us?"

"Nothing, except trying to disable your wireless. "

"Are you telling the whole, full truth?" demanded Captain TomHalstead, surveying the fellow suspiciously. "As much of the truth asyou want to lay bare before going to the bottom in this wild storm?"

"Yes! Oh, yes, yes!" insisted Jasper, easily. "Now, I've cleared myconscience of its load!"

"Humph!" muttered Tom Halstead, dryly. 

At that moment a snapping sound overhead reached their ears. The"Restless" veered about, then heeled dangerously. 

"Our second and last sail has gone!" cried the young skipper, startingforward. "Jasper, I hope you have told me the whole truth, for thereis no knowing, now, how soon you'll start for the bottom--how soonwe'll all go down. Helpless in this sea, the 'Restless' may 'turnturtle. '"

Nor was Tom speaking in jest, nor in any effort to scare the recentprisoner into a fuller confession. Indeed, the motor boat captain waspaying no further heed to the wretch, but making his way forward. Jasper started to follow, Hank bringing up the rear. 

As they reached the motor room the pitching and rolling of the boatwere awesome enough. It seemed incredible that a boat the size of the"Restless" could live even a minute in her now helpless condition. 

Joe still stood at the wheel, white-faced but calm. 

"I don't see what we can do now, Tom, " he shouted. 

"Nothing but get down to the wireless, and do anything you can in theway of picking up some steamship, " Halstead answered. "We might get atow, or, at least, another spread of canvas for a third try to rideout the gale. The chances aren't big for us, but--well, Joe, we'resailors, and can take our medicine. "

Joe smiled grittily as he edged away from the wheel after his chum hadtaken it. 

"At least, if we go down, we go down in command of our own ship!" heyelled bravely in Tom's ear through the wild racket of the gale. 

Then Joe went below. The storage batteries held electricity enough tooperate the few lights and keep the wireless going at intervals forsome hours yet. 

Once, in the minutes that dragged by, Hank Butts thought of the finespread he had been instructed to serve all hands that night. But noone else was thinking of food now. Coffee would have been more to thepurpose, but to start a galley fire was to take the risk of addingfire at sea to the already more than sufficient perils of those aboardthe "Restless. "

Every few minutes Captain Tom Halstead called down through thespeaking tube that connected him with Joe Dawson at the sending table. Always Joe's calm answer came, the same:

"Our wireless spark hasn't picked up any other ship yet. "

Then, just as frequently, Joe would rest his hand on the sending keyagain, and send crashing off into space the signal:

"C. Q. D. !" The three letters that carry always the same message ofdespair across the waves. 

"C. Q. D. !"--the wireless signal of distress. "Help wanted, or weperish!"

CHAPTER XXI

THE SPARK FINDS A FRIEND THROUGH THE GALE

The time had dragged on far into the night. Joe was still at thewireless sending table, sleepless, patient, brave--a sailor born andbred. 

Jasper, like many another rascal a superstitious coward in the face ofimpending death, was seeking to appease the sting of his conscience bydoing everything in his power to make amends in these grave moments. He stood by, pallid-faced yet collected enough to obey any orderinstantly. 

Captain Tom remained on deck all the time now, though Hank oftenrelieved him briefly at the wheel. Both Hepton and Jasper stood by tohelp as deck-hands. Powell Seaton came up on deck occasionally, thoughhe remained more in the motor room. 

Again and again Joe signaled--always that desperately appealing"C. Q. D. !" It was all the signal he needed to send out. Wherever heard, on land or water, the first operator to catch it would break in atonce with a demand for further particulars. 

Yet Joe's soul grew sick within him as time passed, and no such breakcame through the storm-laden air. For Dawson, as well as had he stoodon deck, knew that this endless, malignant fury of the gale mustsooner or later start the seams of the staunch little craft. Or else, struck by a wave bigger than any others, she would lie so far over onher beam ends that she must finish the manoeuvre by "turningturtle"--lying with her keel uppermost, and the crew penned underneathto drown in haste. 

"Nothing to report yet, Joe, old fellow?" came down Captain Tom'sbrave though anxious voice for perhaps the fortieth time. 

"No reply to our signals, Tom, " went back the answer. 

"Do you think our spark is still strong enough to carry far?"

"Plenty of electric 'juice' left, " Joe responded. "The spark is asstrong as ever. Oh, if we only had as much gasoline!"

"Oh, if we only had!"

But ten minutes after that last call Joe again sent forth:

"C. Q. D. ! C. Q. D. !"

Then down the receivers traveled a click--not loud, yet unmistakable. 

"Where are you? Answer!" came the response, out of the air from somequarter. 

In frantic haste Joe Dawson fell upon his key once more. 

 Motor yacht "Restless!" Under no power whatever. Gasoline almost gone--saving the last for any emergency chance that comes to us. All canvas blown overboard. Do you get this?

It seemed to frenzied Joe Dawson as though many minutes passed, yetthe response came promptly:

 Give us your present position, "Restless, " as best you know it!

Joe obeyed with fingers that seemed themselves to be worked byelectricity. The receiver of the message repeated Joe's response, tomake sure that it was correct. 

"Who are you?" Joe now broke in to answer. 

 Havana liner, bound north, and, we believe, within thirty miles of you. Have you been signaling long?

"Seems as though I had been signaling for years, " sent back Joe, laughing nervously to himself. The answer came:

 We'd heard you before, then, but there was a little mishap to our installation. You keep at your table to send and receive. I'll do the same at my end. Keep up your courage until we reach you. Be ready to burn Coston lights when we ask you to. 

Then how fast Joe Dawson managed to talk up through the speaking tube!Tom Halstead, after first announcing the great news to the deck with awild cheer, put Hank at the wheel and hurried below. Shortly, however, the young skipper was back on deck, bearing the wonderful news. 

In smooth weather the Havana liner, ordinarily a fifteen-knot boat, would have reached them in two hours. Under the weather conditions ofthis wild night it was much later when the two craft were withinhailing distance by signal lights. Hank was now in command of thedeck, Skipper Tom and Powell Seaton being with Joe. 

"Shall we try to send you a line for a tow?" came the demand from theliner. 

"Yes, " replied Halstead. Then, with a grimace he added:

"But the salvage charge for such a tow will call for more than we canraise, Joe, old fellow. I reckon the 'Restless' will have to be put upfor sale to pay her own bills. "

"Do you think I'd let you boys stand the towing charges?" demandedPowell Seaton, indignantly. "Whatever charges there are are mine topay, and I'm at least good for the entire purchase price of a fewboats like even this good little old salt water wizard!"

Tom soon afterwards made his way to the deck, but Mr. Seaton, weak andalmost ill after the hours of anxiety, threw himself upon a cushionedseat near the wireless sending table. 

As Tom stood on the bridge deck he studied the liner's lights as thatlarger craft manoeuvred in to the leeward of the motor craft. 

Once she had gained this position at a sufficient distance to make anycollision on this wild sea unlikely, the liner steamed ahead. 

"Stand ready to receive our line!" came to Joe in clicks through thewatch-case receivers over either ear. He swiftly transmitted the orderthrough the speaking tube to Halstead on the bridge. 

Then the liner burned another light. Tom answered with one held in hisown hand. It was the signal to look for the line, and the answer. 

Through the darkness came a sudden, red flash from the after deck ofthe liner. The wind was so heavy that those on the bridge deck of the"Restless" could not be sure that they heard the report of the gun. But a missile whizzed over their heads, and to this blessed projectiletrailed a thin line that fell across the top of the cabin deck. 

Tom and Hank made a simultaneous bolt to get hold of that line. It wasyoung Butts who secured it. He passed it on to the young captain, and, together, they leaped to the bridge-deck with it. From there theycrawled forward over the raised deck, slipping the line, at last, between the two raised ends of the towing bitt. 

"Now, haul in with a will, " glowed the young skipper, as they creptback to the bridge-deck. A great wave swept over them on their wayback. Tom saw it coming, and braced himself. Hank was caught by therush of waters; he would have been swept overboard, but Halsteadgrabbed at one of his ankles, holding on grimly. 

At that moment the late prisoner, Jasper, saw what was happening. Projecting himself forward over the raised deck, he, too, caught holdof Hank Butts, while Powell Seaton held to Jasper. 

It was a sort of human chain by which Hank was pulled to safety. Tom, throughout the excitement, held the "thin line" in one hand. 

"Haul in this thin line, quickly, " shouted the young commander, whocould barely make himself heard above the tumult of the gale. 

As the line was some four hundred feet long, it used up preciousmoments to haul it and coil up the slack. As the last of the "thinline" came into their hands there came with it the first of a stouterhawser, the two lines being knotted securely together. 

"Hold on to me, now! Form a chain again, " ordered Skipper Tom. "I'llmake the hawser fast forward. "

All this while the Havana liner, some four hundred feet away, wasgoing through a complicated bit of manoeuvering under the hands of herofficers. Alternately she moved at half-speed-ahead, at stop, or onthe reverse, in order that, despite the high-rolling waves, she mightnot go too far ahead and snap the thin line. But now young Halsteadsoon had a stout hitch about the towing bitt at the bow. A few moreturns, then he signaled to those behind holding him to help him backto the bridge deck. A dozen great waves had rolled over him on thatsmooth raised deck, but the members of the human chain hauled him backto safety. 

"Signal to our friends that they can apply full speed ahead, Joe, ifthey want to, " directed the young motor boat captain, briefly, as hereached the comparative safety of the bridge deck once more. 

Over the noise of the gale the answering blast from the liner'swhistle came to them as a far-away sound. But now the big boat aheadstarted on at a ten-knot speed. 

"Gracious, but this seems good, once more!" glowed Tom Halstead, taking over the wheel as the towing hawser tautened and the "Restless"began to move forward under a headway that could be controlled anddirected. 

"We couldn't have stood this racket much longer, without a tow, "chattered Joe. "I've had moments at the wheel, to-night, when, onaccount of our helplessness, I've felt sure we were going to 'turnturtle. '"

"What ails your jaws, old fellow?" demanded Tom, looking curiously athis chum. "Say, you're shaking to pieces, and I don't wonder. Getbelow and get dry and warm. Get below all of you, except one to standby me. Who can best remain on deck for a few minutes more?"

"I can, " proposed Jasper, starting forward with an odd mixture ofsullenness and eagerness in his tone. 

"I'll trust you--now, " nodded Captain Halstead, after eyeing the mankeenly. "The rest of you get below. We want a few dry folks aboard. "

On board there was clothing in abundance, enough to enable everyone tomake at least a few changes. Now that the "Restless" could be held toa course, Hank Butts cautiously made a small fire in the galley stove, and then stood by to watch the fire. After a while he had coffeegoing--this with a "cold bite" of food. 

Hepton came up, bye-and-bye, to take the wheel. As he was whollycapable, Tom surrendered the helm to him, then dropped down below forsome of that coffee. 

"We've found out to-night what a wireless is good for, " declared Joe. "But for it, we wouldn't have kept the 'Restless' afloat and rightside up through the night. "

"Until we got this tow I didn't expect ever to see port again, " TomHalstead admitted, quietly. "Do you know, the worst thing folks willhave against row-boats in the future will be the fact that row-boatsare too small to carry a wireless installation!"

"You feel wholly safe, now, do you, captain?" demanded Powell Seaton. "It rather seems to me that the gale has been getting heavier. "

"It has, " Halstead admitted. "If we were adrift, now, we probablycouldn't keep right-side up for ten minutes. But give the 'Restless'real headway, and she'll weather any gale that a liner or a warshipwill. "

"If the towing hawser should part!" shuddered Mr. Seaton. 

"We'd hope to get another line across, and made fast, before we'turned turtle, '" replied Skipper Tom. 

No one could venture from below on the bridge deck without beingquickly drenched. For that reason the wheel-reliefs were short. Hank, by staying right by his galley fire, was able to keep heat at whichanyone coming down from the bridge deck could dry himself. 

By daylight the gale and sea were lighter. For one thing, the Havanaliner had carried her tow so far north that they were out of the worstof it. Half an hour after daylight the wireless operator aboard thelarger craft telegraphed Joe:

"We've taken you in four miles off the town of Mocalee. You can getgasoline there. Do you want to cast off our line now?"

"Yes, " flashed back Joe, after consulting Captain Halstead. "And ourgreatest, heartiest thanks for your fine work for us. "

There was further interchange of courtesies, then the line was castoff as soon as Joe and Hank had started the twin motors going on thelittle that was left of the gasoline. There was no way, or need, tosettle the liner's towing charges now. These could be collected later, for the "Restless" was a boat registered by the United Statesauthorities. She could be found and libeled anywhere if her youngowners failed to settle. 

"Hooray! But doesn't it feel great to be moving under one's own poweragain!" chortled Captain Tom, as he felt the vibration of thepropellers and swung the steering wheel. 

Though the coast had been visible from daylight, the town of Mocaleewas not in sight until the boat neared the mouth of a river. Up thisstream, half a mile, nestled a quaint little Florida town, where, asone of the natives afterwards expressed it to Joe, "we live on fish insummer and sick Yankees in winter. "

"We'd better get on shore, all hands, and stretch our legs, " proposedPowell Seaton, after Skipper Tom had made the "Restless" fast at theone sizable dock of the town. "I see a hotel over yonder. I invite youall to be my guests at breakfast--on a floor that won't rock!"

"I'll stay aboard, then, to look after the boat, " volunteered Hepton. "And you can rely on me to keep a mighty sharp eye on that man, Jasper, " he added, in Halstead's ear. 

It was after seven o'clock in the morning when the shore party fromthe "Restless, " after strolling about a little, turned toward thehotel. 

As they passed through a corridor on the way to the office TomHalstead glanced at a red leather bag that was being broughtdownstairs by a negro bell-boy. 

"Do you see the bag that servant has?" asked Tom, in a whisper, as heclutched Powell Seaton's arm. "Scar on the side, and all, I'd knowthat bag anywhere. It's the one Anson Dalton brought over the sidewhen he boarded the 'Restless' from the 'Constant'!"

CHAPTER XXII

TOM HALSTEAD SPRINGS THE CLIMAX

"Can that fellow be here?" demanded Powell Seaton, his lipstwitching. 

"He must be--or else he has sent someone else with his baggage, " TomHalstead answered, in an undertone. 

None of the party had paused, but had passed on into the office. 

"We've got to know, " whispered Powell Seaton, tremulously. 

"Then you go ahead, sir, and register us for breakfast, and I'llattend to finding out about this new puzzle. "

While Mr. Seaton went toward the desk, Tom signed to Hank Butts tofollow him aside. 

"About all you can do, Hank, is to get outside, not far from the door, and see whether Dalton goes out, " Halstead declared, after havingbriefly explained the situation. "If Dalton leaves the hotel, give usword at once. "

"Here, you take charge of this bag of mine, then, " begged Hank, turning so that the clerk at the desk could not see. 

Butts had come ashore in a long rain-coat drawn on over his otherclothing. Now, he quickly opened a small satchel that he had alsobrought with him. 

"That old hitching weight of yours!" cried Tom, in a gaspingundertone, as he saw Hank slip that heavy iron object from the bag toa hiding place under his coat. "How on earth do you happen to havethat thing with you?"

"It must have been a private tip from the skies, " grinned Hank, "but Isaw the thing lying in the motor room and I picked it up and slippedit into this satchel. Take the bag from me and I'll get out on theporch. "

All this took place so quietly that the clerk at the desk noticednothing. Halstead now carried the empty bag as he sauntered back tothe party. But he found chance to whisper to Joe:

"Anson Dalton must be in this hotel. Hank is slipping out to watch thefront of the house. Hadn't you better get around to the rear? If ithappens that the fellow is about to leave here, it might be worth ourwhile to know where he goes. "

Nodding, Joe quietly slipped away. The negro with the red bag had nowentered the office. The bag, however, he took over to the coat-roomand left it there. 

"Breakfast will be ready at any time after eight o'clock, gentlemen, "announced the clerk. 

Powell Seaton lighted a cigar, remaining standing by the desk. Tomstood close by. The door of the office opened. Anson Dalton, puffingat a cigarette, his gaze resting on the floor, entered. He was someten feet into the room before he looked up, to encounter the steadygaze of Captain Halstead and the charter-man. 

Starting ever so little, paling just a bit, Dalton returned thatsteady regard for a few seconds, then looked away with affectedcarelessness. 

"Going to leave us to-day, Mr. Dalton?" inquired the clerk. 

"I don't know, " replied the scoundrel, almost sulkily. Then, lightinga fresh cigarette, he strolled over by one of the windows. Presently, without looking backward at the captain and charter-man of the"Restless, " the fellow opened a door and stepped out onto the porch. There he promptly recognized Hank Butts, who stared back at him withinterest. 

"I wonder if Lemly is with this fellow?" whispered Halstead to hisemployer. 

"I'm going beyond that, and wondering what the whole fact of Dalton'spresence here can possibly mean, " replied Powell Seaton. 

The office door from the corridor opened again. Through the doorwayand across the office floor stepped, with half-mincing gait, a young, fair-haired man who, very plainly, had devoted much attention to hisattire. 

"Where is Mr. Dalton?" demanded this immaculate youth, in a soft, rather effeminate voice that made Halstead regard him with a look ofdisfavor. 

"You'll find him out on the porch, I think, Mr. Dawley, " answered theclerk. 

"Oh, thank you, I'm sure, " replied the soft-voiced one. As though hewere walking on eggs young Mr. Dawley turned, going toward the porchdoor. 

"Oh, good morning, Dalton, dear fellow, " cried the fair-haired dandy, in the same soft voice, as he came upon Seaton's enemy, who waswalking up and down the porch utterly ignoring Hank Butts. 

"Good morning, Dawley, " replied Dalton, looking more than a littlebored by the interruption. 

"Now, who and what, in the game, is Dalton's Elizabeth-boy friend?"wondered Hank, eying the latest arrival. 

"Have a cigarette, Dawley?" asked Dalton, in a voice almost ofirritation, as he held out his case. 

"Charming of you, indeed, " declared Dawley, helping himself to acigarette and lighting it. 

"Look out the tobacco doesn't make you sick, babe, " muttered HankButts under his breath. 

"Now, my dear Dalton, about the business we were discussing here lastevening----" began the soft-voiced one, but the other broke in on himwith:

"If you don't mind, Dawley, I want to think a bit now. "

"Oh, that will be quite all right, I am sure, " agreed the soft-voicedone. "Then I'll just stroll down the street a bit and be back in timeto breakfast with you. "

Dalton nodded and the fair-haired fashion plate stepped down into thepath and strolled away. 

"All of which tells us, " reflected Hank, "that our friend Dalton hasbeen here at least since yesterday, and that he and the Elizabeth-boydude are not very well acquainted. "

Butts looked up, almost with a start, to find Dalton close at hand, scowling into the boy's face. 

"I suppose you're out here to watch me, " growled Dalton, glaring. 

"If I am, you wouldn't expect me to grow confidential about it, wouldyou?" asked Hank, grinning into the other's face. 

"Oh, I don't want any of your impudence, " snapped the rascal. 

"I wouldn't give you any, or anything else belonging to me, " clickedHank Butts, decisively. 

"If you're standing out here to watch me, " continued Dalton, "I amwilling to tell you that I am not leaving the hotel for the present. "

"That, or any other information you are willing to offer me, will betreated in the utmost confidence, I assure you, " promised Hank. 

"Don't be too frolicsome with me!" warned Dalton, wrathily. 

"I?" echoed Hank, looking astonished. "Why, I didn't say anythinguntil you spoke to me. "

With a snort Anson Dalton strolled away to a chair, seating himselfand blowing out great clouds of smoke. 

"He isn't exactly glad to see us here--I can guess that much, " thoughtHank. "But I wish I could guess how Anson Dalton comes to be here. Ididn't see anything of his drab boat in the river. "

In the meantime Tom Halstead and Powell Seaton, after dropping intochairs in the office, were talking most earnestly in undertones. Fromwhere they sat they could see Dalton's red bag resting on a shelf inthe coat-room. 

"I'd give the world to know whether the rascal has the stolen papersstill in that bag!" cried Seaton, anxiously. 

"Would he be likely to leave the bag around the hotel carelessly, ifit contained anything so important?" asked Tom. 

"He might have been willing to do so before he knew we were abouthere, " replied the charter-man. 

"But even when he knows we're here the fellow doesn't seem anxiousabout the matter. "

"Because the clerk is behind the desk, where he can see everything, "hinted Mr. Seaton. 

"Yet, for all Dalton knows, the clerk might leave the room for aminute and give us our chance. "

"I've an idea, " muttered Mr. Seaton, rising so quickly that Tom stoodup with him. "You keep the best eye possible over the rascal. Don't goin to breakfast unless he goes. Never mind whether I come to breakfastor not. "

"All right, sir, " nodded Halstead. 

As Powell Seaton crossed the porch without even looking in Dalton'sdirection, the young motor boat captain also stepped outside, goingover to Hank. 

"Watch that fellow, Hank, " whispered Tom. "Don't let him get away fromyou. "

"Not if I have to steal his cigarettes, " promised Butts, with vim. 

Then Skipper Tom vanished, though not for long. He merely went to findJoe Dawson, at the opposite side of the building. The two chumsreturned together. 

"Now, " said Tom, in a chuckling whisper, "if Anse Dalton wants to getaway from us, he'll have to run in four different directions at thesame time. "

"But did you see the nice plush boy that's with Dalton?" asked Hank, dryly. Butts, more than any of the others of the party, had taken agreat dislike to the soft-voiced one. 

Dalton turned, once in a while, to scowl in the direction of the threemotor boat boys. That, however, was all the attention he gave them. Alittle later Dawley returned and seated himself beside his friend. 

"Breakfast is ready, gentlemen, " called the clerk, opening the door. 

Not one of the Motor Boat Club boys stirred until after Dalton roseand stepped inside. Then they followed, close in the rear. 

Dalton and his companion stepped into the dining room, installingthemselves at a table not far from the door. Tom led the way for hisparty at the second table beyond. Two waiters appeared, one attendingto each of the tables. 

Dawley was evidently in bubbling spirits. He insisted on talking much, in his soft voice, to Anson Dalton, who was plainly annoyed. TomHalstead glanced over at his enemy with an amused smile. 

Yet no word passed between the tables. Food and coffee were brought, after some minutes, and at both tables the meal was disposed ofslowly, excellent appetites being the rule. 

Powell Seaton, in the meantime, had hastened to the telegraph office. From there he wired, "rush, " to the chief of police at Beaufort, advising the latter that Anson Dalton was in Mocalee, and askingwhether Dalton was wanted by the United States or state authorities onany charges growing out of the seizure of the schooner "Black Betty. "

This dispatch sent off, Mr. Seaton, though remaining at the telegraphoffice, sent a messenger in haste for James Hunter, who representedMocalee as chief of police and the entire police force. 

"Jim Hunter, " as he was locally called, a raw-boned, taciturn man, came speedily to the telegraph office. He was in his shirt-sleeves, chewing a straw, but he wore his police badge on his coat, while ashort "billy" appeared in a hip pocket. Jim Hunter listened quietlywhile the operator, at Seaton's request, displayed the original of thetelegram that had been sent to Beaufort. 

Telegraph companies give quick service on telegrams relating to policebusiness. So it was not long ere the operator's receiving instrumentbegan to click with the local call. 

The first dispatch that the operator passed out through the gratedwindow was addressed to Powell Seaton, and signed by the chief atBeaufort. It read:

 Thank you for information. Have wired chief of police, Mocalee. 

The second telegram, following almost instantly, was addressed to thechief of police of Mocalee. It ran:

Arrest Anson Dalton, wanted by U. S. Authorities oncharge of smuggling. Powell Seaton will point him out toyou. Notify me when arrested. Be careful to get all Daltonbaggage. Hold for orders. 

"That's all I wanter know, " said Hunter, laconically, biting off theend of his straw and spitting it out. "Lead me to your friend Dalton, Mr. Seaton. "

"I ought to warn you that he's a desperate fellow, " murmured Mr. Seaton, as the pair left the telegraph office together. 

"I've seen that kind before, " nodded Mr. Hunter, curtly. 

"Pardon me, but I notice you carry a club. Dalton will undoubtedlyhave a revolver, and he's likely to be ugly enough to attempt to useit, " explained Mr. Seaton, apprehensively. "May I ask if you have apistol, too?"

"I always carry all the tools I need, " answered Jim Hunter. "I don'tgen'rally 'low any man to pull a gun on me, though. Sometimes I'mquicker'n I gen'rally look. "

There was an air of quiet, forceful reserve about this Floridapoliceman that made Powell Seaton feel more confident that thebusiness in hand would not be defeated for lack of preparation. Theymade their way quickly to the hotel. 

Anson Dalton and his soft-voiced companion were still at table, thoughevidently near the end of their meal. 

Hank Butts, at a signal from his captain, had left the table. Hank haddonned his rain-coat again, and was now waiting in the corridorleading to the stairs, in case Dalton should pass that way. 

A moment later Joe left the table, stepping through the office and outonto the porch. 

[Illustration: The Table Struck Hunter Amidships. ]

Dalton and Dawley were just rising when Halstead, seated where hecould see out into the office, saw Seaton and a stranger enter. 

"Now, the music will begin, " thought Tom Halstead, throbbing. 

"There he is, officer--the dark one!" cried Powell Seaton, leading theway into the dining room. 

Jim Hunter lost no time. He made a spring in the direction of AnsonDalton, whose eyes flashed fire. Trained in a hard, desperate school, Dalton was fuller of tricks than the police chief had expected. 

As Hunter rushed at him, Dalton forcefully pushed one of the smalltables toward him. It struck Hunter amidships, most unexpectedly, andhad the result of sending Mocalee's police force sprawling to thefloor. 

"You can't stop me--you shall not!" roared Anson Dalton. He made adash for the doorway leading to the office. Swift as he was, TomHalstead darted through ahead of him. 

"He'll try to get that red bag--and he'll put up a fight with apistol!" flashed through the young motor boat skipper's brain. "I'llfool him so far as the bag is concerned. "

Diving into the coat-room, the door of which stood open, Halstead wasin season to snatch up the bag. He turned, to find Dalton rushing athim, hands reached out. 

Ducking under, Tom eluded Dalton, and darted across the office. 

"Let some of the others catch him, " gritted Halstead, inwardly. "Whatwe want most to know may be in this bag!"

It was all done so quickly that Skipper Tom was across the office, pulling open the door into the corridor, before Anson Dalton boundedafter him. 

Joe Dawson rushed in from the porch, but too late to be of immediatehelp. Officer Hunter had sprawled badly, and Mr. Seaton had halted toaid him to his feet. 

"Drop that bag, or you'll wish you had--no time for this nonsense, "blazed Dalton, angrily, thrusting his right hand at his hip pocket. 

CHAPTER XXIII

HANK BECOMES REALLY TERRIBLE

Bump! Whack!

Tom Halstead tried to slam the door shut in his pursuer's face, butone of Dalton's feet barred the closing, then thrust the door open. 

As Halstead raced into the corridor Anson Dalton was close behind him, his hand yanking a revolver from his pocket. 

There would have been a shot in another instant. Halstead might havebeen badly hit. 

But Hank Butts, on duty in the corridor, had heard the cries. 

As the door was thrust open Hank leaped forward. Out from under hisrain coat he brought that same old hitching weight. 

There was an instant, only, for action, but young Butts was an expertwith the weapon he had made his own. 

His hands flew aloft, then descended, just as Anson Dalton's left footwas thrust forward in his running. 

"Halt, you----" roared Dalton. 

Bim! Down came the hitching weight, and landed squarely across theleft foot of the pursuer. Dalton let out a fearful yell, while hisrevolver fell to the floor. There was a flash and a crashing explosionin that confined space; the weapon had been harmlessly discharged. 

As for Dalton, he swayed dizzily for a few seconds, trying to lift theinjured foot. Then, with a groan and a burst of ugly language, he sankto the floor. 

Hank darted in, securing his hitching weight and backing off with itonce more. 

Though he had heard the discharge of the pistol, Jim Hunter did notstop to reach for his own revolver. He leaped through into thecorridor, his pocket police club in hand. 

"There he is, but you won't have to club him any, " announced Hank, dryly, pointing to the groaning Dalton. "He'll eat out of your hand, now--will Anson Dalton. "

Pausing only to drop his club to the floor, Jim Hunter whipped out apair of handcuffs from a cavernous pocket, bent over Dalton, and----

Snap-click! The troublesome enemy of the motor boat boys was not onlybadly hurt, but a secure prisoner as well. 

Now, Seaton and the boys gathered about the law's captive. 

"I reckon you'll have to git up, " announced Jim Hunter, putting ahelping hand under one of Dalton's arms. 

"I can't--oh, stop! Let up! My foot's crushed. I can't stand on it!"yelled Dalton. 

Hunter came quickly to realize the fact that Dalton could not standwith much comfort. Joe came up with a chair, onto which the prisonerwas allowed to sink. 

"Oh, you boys think you've finished things for me, don't you?" leeredDalton, glaring around him in a rage. "But you haven't. You'll soonfind that you've just begun to stir up trouble for yourselves. "

"Go easy, man--do!" begged Hunter, soothingly. "Of course yer pet cornfeels bad just now. But, say! That's the niftiest way of stopping abad man, I reckon, thet was ever invented. "

"Is it?" groaned Dalton. Then, catching the trace of a smirk in Hank'seyes, the rascal shook his fist at the steward of the "Restless, "snarling:

"I'll find my own way to settle with you!"

"Take your time--when you're feeling better, " Hank begged, cheerfully. 

Fair-haired, soft-voiced young Dawley had followed the crowd out intothe corridor. The hotel clerk, the proprietor and three or four of theservants all had increased the crowd there. Dawley rapidly learnedwhat had happened. 

"It's a beastly outrage, " he announced, his soft voice sounding almostharsh in the indignation that he felt. 

"Oh, take a fan, Dolly, and go out on the porch to cool off, " growledJoe Dawson. 

One of the servants, in the excess of excitement, actually took thefair-haired youth by the shoulders, and, though the latter protested, thrust him out through the open door onto the porch, slamming the doorafter him. 

"That's too bad, " grinned Hank. "I'll go out and see if the poorfellow has fainted. "

As Butts stepped out on the porch, closing the door shut after him, Dawley, his cheeks very red, leaped out from the chair into which hehad sunk. 

"It was you who played that mean trick on my friend, " cried Dawley, ina voice which he fondly believed trembled with rage. 

"Yes, " admitted Hank, meekly. 

"I'll punish you for that!" quivered the soft-voiced one, steppingforward. 

"Don't strike me on the wrist, " pleaded Hank. "I have rheumatismthere. "

But Dawley, too angry, or else too dull to understand that he wasbeing made a mark for ridicule, continued to advance upon Butts, whoretreated, a look of mock alarm in his face. 

"Keep away from me--please do, while you're angry, " begged Hank, stillretreating. 

"I won't!" snapped Dawley. As Hank now retreated rapidly backward, Dawley went after him with corresponding speed. 

"If you must have it, then, why--take it!" cried Hank, in a tone ofdesperation. 

One of his hands had been held under his rain-coat all along. Now Hankthrust the other hand inside, as well, to reach for some objectconcealed there. 

"Oh. O-o-oh! Don't you drop that weight on my foot!" yelled Dawley, blanching and falling up against the wooden wall. 

But Hank, ruthlessly, as one whose blood is up, brought both his handsswiftly into view as he sprang at Dawley. There was a yell from thefair-haired one as Hank bent forward, then dropped squarely on thetoes of Dawley's right foot--his _pocket-handkerchief_!

"There, now!" mimicked Hank Butts, turning on his heel. 

A roar of laughter came from Mr. Seaton, Tom, Joe and two or three ofthe bystanders who had followed outside. 

CHAPTER XXIV

CONCLUSION

"I'm sorry, young man, " said Powell Seaton, resting a hand on Dawley'scollar, "but the chief of police wants to see you. "

"I'm not arrested, am I?" demanded the soft-voiced one, in a tone ofgreat alarm. 

"I think not. But come along. The chief wants to see you in theoffice. "

There they found Hunter and his manacled prisoner, who had beencarried into the office just as he sat on the chair. 

"Where's that red bag that started all the trouble?" demanded ChiefHunter. Joe Dawson produced it. 

"You can't open that, " leered Dalton, though he spoke uneasily. 

"If we can't unlock it, we'll cut it open with a sharp breadknife, "mocked Hunter. "Yet I reckon thet we'll find the key in yer pocket. "

This guess turned out to be correct. The key was inserted in the lockand the bag opened. Powell Seaton pushed forward to help the policeofficial in the inspection of the contents. 

"There are my papers, " cried Powell Seaton, grabbing at twoenvelopes. 

"Look 'em over, ef you want, but I reckon I'll haveter have 'em to gowith the prisoner, " assented Chief Hunter. 

"They're the same papers that this fellow stole--one set from Clodis, and the other from my bungalow through a helper, " cried Mr. Seaton. 

Anson Dalton watched Seaton with a strange, sinister look. 

"Gracious! Look at these, here!" gasped Chief Hunter, opening a smallleather case. Nearly a score of flashing white stones greeted hiseyes. 

"Di'munds, I reckon, " guessed the police chief. 

"Yes; Brazilian diamonds, " confirmed Powell Seaton. "Probably thisprisoner's share or proceeds from smuggling in diamonds. Thatbusiness, then, was what the 'Black Betty' was used for. "

"Those are the diamonds I came down here to negotiate for, " broke inDawley, wonderingly. 

"You?" demanded Hunter, surveying the soft-voiced one. 

"Yes; my father is Dawley, the big jeweler at Jacksonville, " explainedthe youth. "Here's his card. I'm the buyer for the house, and yourprisoner wrote that he had some fine stones to sell. "

"They're fine, all right, or I'm no judge of Brazilian diamonds, "nodded Powell Seaton. "But I guess the United States Government ownsthem, now, as a confiscated prize. "

A carriage was brought around to the door, and Anson Dalton was drivento the county jail, eight miles away, to be locked up there pendingthe arrival of United States officers. 

Dawley easily proved his innocence, and the truth of his own story. Despite his effeminate manners and soft voice, it afterwards developedthat the youth was a skilled buyer of precious stones, and a young manof no little importance in the business community of his home town. 

Following the swift succession of events at the little Florida town, there came a lull in the long strain of excitement and danger. 

Every now and then Dick Davis and Ab Perkins, aboard the Rio-bound"Glide, " found a chance to have a wireless message relayed back to theUnited States. 

These messages came in veiled language, according to instructions, butthey conveyed to Powell Seaton the joyous news that these two far-awaymembers of the Motor Boat Club were proceeding safely on their longjourney, and that no harm was happening to them, nor to the preciouspapers in their care. 

One fine day a cablegram came all the way from Rio Janeiro which toldthat Dick and Ab had reached that Brazilian city, and had turned overthe papers in their care to the waiting American for whom they wereintended. 

A week after that came another cablegram, announcing that the Americansyndicate had succeeding in locating the lost diamond field, and thatpapers for a proper patent were being filed with the BrazilianGovernment. 

Right on top of that came the news, in the daily press, that GovernorTerrero, of Vahia, had been shot and killed by an escaped prisoner--aformer enemy whom the governor had greatly and wickedly harassed. 

Captain Dave Lemly was captured about this time. He and Dalton, itdeveloped, had been the principal American agents in a big scheme forsmuggling Brazilian diamonds into the United States. The gems, it wasshown, were secretly shipped in quantities from Rio, aboard a sailingship. This ship, carrying a general cargo, was always met nearBeaufort by Lemly, in the "Black Betty, " and the diamonds were takenon the little black schooner. As the "Black Betty" sailed as a fishingboat, Dave Lemly had always been able to evade the American customsauthorities, and a hugely profitable business in diamond smuggling hadbeen built up. 

Governor Terrero, of the state of Vahia, Brazil, it is supposed, wasbehind the southern end of the smuggling scheme, though this has notbeen proved. Dalton, acting as the governor's go-between and spy, hadplayed his part well and desperately. Yet now, in the end, Dalton wasconvicted on the evidence furnished by some of the members of the latecrew of the "Black Betty. " So was Lemly, and both are now serving longsentences in prison, along with the members of the crew of thesmuggling schooner. 

Clodis recovered, after a few weeks. He was handsomely rewarded by thenew diamond syndicate for the dangers through which he had run. Helast remembered descending the stairs to the "Constant's" stairs, andhad no recollection of having been struck down. 

All the members of the guard over at Lonely Island were more thanhandsomely paid. Even Jasper was forgiven, and well rewarded. 

After he had been in prison some length of time Anson Dalton one dayconfessed to Mr. Seaton's attorney that, while at sea on the drab boat(which was afterwards found and confiscated by the revenue people), he, Dalton, had copied the stolen papers, intending to send one setsouthward and retain the originals. 

After losing both the "Restless" and the "Glide" in the fog, Daltonhad had Lemly put in to shore. There they had been met by a trustedBrazilian spy for Governor Terrero. The Brazilian, with the copies ofthe papers, had hurried to New York by train. This Brazilian did notsucceed in starting for Rio until some days after the "Glide" hadsailed, and, moreover, he went on a slower boat. So, by the time theBrazilian spy arrived at Rio, the American syndicate had located thelost diamond field, had filed patents with the Government, and Terrerohad died. So all of Anson Dalton's plotting had come to naught. 

One of Powell Seaton's first acts was to adjust fully the claim of theHavana line for the towing of the "Restless" through that fearfulnortheast gale. 

While waiting for the final news of the success of his plans, thecharter-man cruised much up and down the coast with the boys of the"Restless. " Then afterwards, through the month of November, Seatonenjoyed another cruise with them. 

The charter money was not all that Captain Tom, Engineer Joe andSteward Hank received for their splendid work. 

As soon as the final plans of the great new American diamond syndicateat Rio Janeiro had been established on a safe and firm basis, thecharter-man of the "Restless" was prepared to talk of a splendidreward. His plans were so big, in fact, that all three of the boysfelt bound to call a halt. Yet the reward that they _did_ finallyaccept made very important additions to the bank accounts of all threeof these daring young motor boat navigators. 

Dick Davis and Ab Perkins, on their return from Rio, were "remembered"by Mr. Seaton with bank drafts the size of which almost took awaytheir breath. 

Then came a new cruise, a new set of adventures in new surroundings. It was a cruise which the many friends of our Motor Boat Club boyswill agree was the most wonderful, the most exciting, and certainlythe most mysterious lot of adventures through which any member of theClub ever passed. The details of what happened, however, must bereserved for the next volume in this series, which will be publishedunder the title: "THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB IN FLORIDA; Or, Laying the Ghostof Alligator Swamp. "

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PONY RIDER BOYS SERIES

By Frank Gee Patchin

These tales may be aptly described as those of a new Cooper. As theearlier novelist depicted the first days of the advancing frontier, sodoes Mr. Patchin deal charmingly and realistically with what is left ofthe strenuous outdoor West of the twentieth century. In every sensethey belong to the best class of books for boys. 

1 The Pony Rider Boys in the Rockies; Or, The Secret of the Lost Claim. 

2 The Pony Rider Boys in Texas; Or, The Veiled Riddle of the Plains. 

3 The Pony Rider Boys in Montana; Or, The Mystery of the Old Custer Trail. 

4 The Pony Rider Boys in the Ozarks; Or, The Secret of Ruby Mountain. 

5 The Pony Rider Boys on the Alkali; Or, Finding a Key To the Desert Maze. 

6 The Pony Rider Boys in New Mexico; Or, The End of the Silver Trail. 

Cloth, 12mo, Illustrated. Price, per Volume, 50 cts. 

Sold by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of price

Henry Altemus Company

507-513 CHERRY STREET

PHILADELPHIA

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SERIES

By H. Irving Hancock

In this series of bright, crisp books a new note has been struck. 

Boys of every age under sixty will be interested in these fascinatingvolumes. 

1 THE HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN; Or, Dick & Co's First Year Pranks and Sports. 

2 THE HIGH SCHOOL PITCHER; Or, Dick & Co. On the Gridley Diamond. 

3 THE HIGH SCHOOL LEFT END; Or, Dick & Co. Grilling on the Football Gridiron. 

4 THE HIGH SCHOOL CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM; Or, Dick & Co. Leading the Athletic Vanguard. 

Cloth, 12mo, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. 

GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS SERIES

By H. Irving Hancock

This series of stories, based on the actual doings of grammar schoolboys comes near to the heart of the average American boy. 

1 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS OF GRIDLEY; Or, Dick & Co. Start Things Moving. 

2 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS SNOWBOUND; Or, Dick & Co. At Winter Sports. 

3 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN THE WOODS; Or, Dick & Co. Trail Fun and Knowledge. 

4 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN SUMMER ATHLETICS; Or, Dick & Co. Make Their Fame Secure. 

Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. 

WEST POINT SERIES

By H. Irving Hancock

The principal characters in these narratives are two sound, wholesome, manly young Americans who go strenuously through their four years ofcadetship. Their doings will prove an inspiration to all American boys. 

1 DICK PRESCOTT'S FIRST YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Two Chums in the Cadet Gray. 

2 DICK PRESCOTT'S SECOND YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Finding the Glory of the Soldier's Life. 

3 DICK PRESCOTT'S THIRD YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Standing Firm for Flag and Honor. 

4 DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps. 

Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. 

ANNAPOLIS SERIES

By H. Irving Hancock

The Spirit of the new Navy is delightfully and truthfully depicted inthese volumes. 

1 DAVE DARRIN'S FIRST YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Two Plebe Midshipmen at the U. S. Naval Academy. 

2 DAVE DARRIN'S SECOND YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Two Midshipmen as Naval Academy "Youngsters. "

3 DAVE DARRIN'S THIRD YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Leaders of the Second Class Midshipmen. 

4 DAVE DARRIN'S FOURTH YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Headed for Graduation and the Big Cruise. 

Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. 

BOYS OF THE ARMY SERIES

By H. Irving Hancock

These books breathe the life and spirit of the United States Army ofto-day, and the life, just as it is, is described by a master-pen. 

1 Uncle Sam's Boys in the Ranks; Or, Two Recruits in the United States Army. 

2 Uncle Sam's Boys on Field Duty; Or, Winning Corporal's Chevrons. 

3 Uncle Sam's Boys As Sergeants; Or, Handling Their First Real Commands. 

(Other volumes to follow rapidly. )

Cloth, 12mo, Illustrated--Price, per Volume, 50c. 

BATTLESHIP BOYS SERIES

By Frank Gee Patchin

These stories throb with the life of young Americans on today's hugedrab Dreadnaughts. 

1 The Battleship Boys at Sea; Or, Two Apprentices in Uncle Sam's Navy. 

2 The Battleship Boys' First Step Upward; Or, Winning Their Grades as Petty Officers. 

3 The Battleship Boys in Foreign Service; Or, Earning New Ratings in European Seas. 

(Other volumes to follow rapidly. )

Cloth, 12mo, Illustrated--Price, per Volume, 50c. 

THE CIRCUS BOYS SERIES

By Edgar B. P. Darlington

Mr. Darlington is known to all real circus people along every routethat big and little shows travel. His books breathe forth every phaseof an intensely interesting and exciting life. 

1 THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE FLYING RINGS; Or, Making the Start in the Sawdust Life. 

2 THE CIRCUS BOYS ACROSS THE CONTINENT; Or, Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark. 

3 THE CIRCUS BOYS IN DIXIE LAND; Or, Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South. 

(Other volumes to follow rapidly. )

Cloth, 12mo, Illustrated--Price, per Volume, 50c. 

THE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SERIES

By Jessie Graham Flower, A. M. 

These breezy stories of the American High School Girl take the readerfairly by storm. 

1 GRACE HARLOWE'S PLEBE YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or The Merry Doings of the Oakdale Freshmen Girls. 

2 GRACE HARLOWE'S SOPHOMORE YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Record of the Girl Chums in Work and Athletics. 

3 GRACE HARLOWE'S JUNIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, Fast Friends in the Sororities. 

4 GRACE HARLOWE'S SENIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Parting of the Ways. 

Cloth, 12mo, Illustrated--Price, per Volume, 50c. 

THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS SERIES

By Laura Dent Crane

No girl's library--no family book-case can be considered at allcomplete unless it contains these sparkling twentieth-century books, written for present-day girls. 

1 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT NEWPORT; Or, Watching the Summer Parade. 

2 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS IN THE BERKSHIRES; Or, The Ghost of Lost Man's Trail. 

3 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS ALONG THE HUDSON; Or, Fighting Fire in Sleepy Hollow. 

(Other volumes to follow rapidly. )

Cloth, 12mo, Illustrated--Price, per Volume, 50c. 

THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS

By Frank Gee Patchin

Have you any idea of the excitements, the glories of life on greatranches in the West? Any bright boy will "devour" the books of thisseries, once he has made a start with the first volume. 

1 The Range and Grange Hustlers on the Ranch; Or, The Boy Shepherds of the Great Divide. 

2 The Range and Grange Hustlers' Greatest Round-up; Or, Pitting Their Wits Against a Packer's Combine. 

Cloth, Illustrated--Price, per Volume, 50c. 

THE YOUNG ENGINEERS SERIES

By H. Irving Hancock

Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton, the heroes of the stories in this series, are already well known to readers of the Grammar School Boys Series andHigh School Boys Series. In this new series Tom and Harry provethemselves worthy of all the traditions of Dick & Co. 

1 The Young Engineers in Colorado; Or, At Railroad Building in Earnest. 

2 The Young Engineers in Arizona; Or, Laying Tracks on the "Man-Killer" Quicksands. 

Cloth, Illustrated--Price, per Volume, 50c. 

THE SQUARE DOLLAR BOYS SERIES

By H. Irving Hancock

In this series Mr. Hancock gives the American boy a complete knowledgeof existing political conditions. 

These books are full of intense interest, with stirring plots. Theywill teach our boys to think, to vote properly, and make them bettercitizens. 

1 The Square Dollar Boys Wake Up; Or, Fighting the Trolley Franchise Steal. 

2 The Square Dollar Boys Smash the Ring; Or, In the Lists Against the Crooked Land Deal. 

Cloth, Illustrated--Price, per Volume, 50c. 

THE BOYS OF STEEL SERIES

By James R. Mears

In this splendid series the great American steel industry is exploitedby a master pen. The information given is exact and truthful, and fullof fascination for the American youth. 

1 The Iron Boys in the Mines; Or, Starting at the Bottom of the Shaft. 

2 The Iron Boys as Foremen; Or, Heading the Diamond Drill Shift. 

Cloth, Illustrated--Price, per Volume, 50c.