Part 21 (2/2)

”Well, good-night, old man,” said Merritt, as Donald, who relieved hiood watch out, all right,” was the earnest response

”It's our only way to get poor old Rob back”

”I' the place with a despondent air As Donald had said, it was a chance--but what a long, see out calls, and every little while he paused for an answer out of space to his appeals As he pressed the sending key the blue, lithe spark leaped and crackled between its points like a fiery snake Then all would becoain as he listened for an answer to his call

Once he caught a steamer bound north and carried on quite a conversation with its operator He felt quite lonesoood-bye”

It was very still about the encaan to feel ed for someone to talk to; but he knew that chance would not come till Tubby, his relief, appeared

The stout youth was alot into communication with a steamer called the _Cambria_, bound north from New Orleans to New York He put his custoreen motor boat?” came back the reply

”Yes,” flashed Donald

”With one signal h cabin?”

”Yes! yes,” shot out Donald, pounding the key excitedly ”Have you seen such a craft?”

”We sighted her this evening”

The boy's fingers shook as he wrote down the reply with flying pencil on the scratch pad at his elbow

”Down off so,” caht toward us and then all of a sudden she headed away Seeet near us Is that all?”

”Yes; good-bye, and thank you,” flashed back Donald exultantly

His fingers had hardly left the key before he was startled by a soft footfall behind him

The boy wheeled like a flash and then al revolver in his hand, was Barton, the machinist

There was a mean sneer on his sinister face as he snarled out:

”Let ot no e for you,” responded Donald, deterreen motor boat's whereabouts

”That's a lie,” snarled Barton; ”don't o, I kno to use it, too”

CHAPTER XXIII

THE DEPTHS OF OLD OCEAN