Part 16 (2/2)

Merritt could not refrain frouesser, Barton takes the palm,” he breathed

”Hush!+” murmured Rob under his breath: ”What are they up to now?”

”Going to dig up those uess Barton must have stolen theht then soave Merritt a shock Rob rose to his feet and started toward the beach Thehad headed inland, evidently to aid Barton in uncovering the hidden one crazy, Rob? Lie down here,” cautioned Merritt

”Notwhile I've got the chance”

”What do youdown to have a look at that boat, and if I can I' to shove her off and thus leave those er, Rob, you are a great fellow for ideas If only you can cast the boat adrift, we'll have those chaps bottled up as securely as if they were in a jail”

”Wait here till I coone more than ten minutes”

”I'd like to come with you, Rob”

”No; this is a job I can do best alone”

Rob noiselessly slipped away The boat from which the mysterious men had landed was plainly discernible as a black blot on the sandy beach Rob tried to ainst the white strip of sand he felt as noticeable as an elephant However, he gained the boat without interruption

Its bow had been built up, apparently, to make it more seaworthy, and the boy noticed that a s into the space beneath the raised bow He had hardly discovered this when he was startled to hear voices close at hand

It was Barton and his crooked acco back Fortunately for Rob, they were behind a dune, so that it was impossible for them to observe him But in a moment, the boy realized with a thrill, they would be upon hi what he was doing, Rob sought the only place of concealment close at hand--the space under the raised bow of the boat He had hardly squeezed into his cramped quarters before the trio of rascals topped the rise

Rob, with a sinking of the heart, realized at that moment that it would have been better for him to have taken his chances and run away fro that was not exactly fear, but very like it, Rob recognized the fact that he was a concealed passenger, a stoay, on board a boat on which his presence h hisabout the ”clever” work they had done

”I guess Barr and his _Peacehed one of them

”Yes, and the best of it is that Barton will never be suspected,”

responded the other ”Our govern submarines of the Barr type, while Barr and the United States Governnorance of the fact that all efforts are for nothing”

”You can bet I never put through a job unless I do it right,” struck in Barton with great self-complacency