Part 53 (2/2)

”Not yet. Pull in a little closer to sh.o.r.e. I have an idea Peters and Crosby may land somewhere around here.”

”Like as not that is their game.”

On they went, the darkness growing more intense as they proceeded. There was no moon, and the stars shone but faintly in the blue vault overhead.

Suddenly Jerry held up his hand as a sign to Harry to stop rowing.

Instantly his chum raised the oars.

”What do you see?” he whispered.

”Something ahead--I can't make out just what yet.”

Several minutes of breathless silence followed. Then Jerry bent back.

”The Redeye is just ahead, but I believe Si Peters and Wash Crosby have already left her.”

A second later a low but clear cry rang out:

”You left that bundle behind, Crosby!”

”Never mind, I don't want the old suit,” was the reply, coming from some distance in toward sh.o.r.e.

”That settles it,” whispered Jerry. ”Crosby and Peters are in a row-boat pulling for sh.o.r.e, beyond a doubt.”

”That's all right,” replied Harry. ”I would rather tackle them than all those on the Redeye.”

”So would I.”

The row-boat was headed for the west.

How far off the sh.o.r.e was they did not know.

They had located the voice of Crosby and now steered in the direction.

Jerry at the bow continued to keep his ears on the alert.

”A little to the right, now,” he said. ”That's it. If you don't make too much noise we'll surprise them completely.”

”I think the best thing we can do is to follow them after they land, until they reach some place where we can have them locked up, Jerry.”

”That is certainly a good plan. It will save us the trouble of dragging them off to jail, if we are fortunate enough to capture them.”

Harry's plan was accepted, and on they went.

”Look!” cried Jerry, presently, and pointed down the sh.o.r.e.

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