Part 31 (1/2)

”All right, what'll it be?”

”The Catwhisker ought to have an official signal,” said Hal ”Why not ood; it's adopted”

The first trip was made without incident worthy of special note Hal and Mr Baker brought all of the radio set except the aerial, and Mr Perry and Mr Buckley each carried a load of camp equipment on their return trip Then Mr Perry insisted that Hal reain for another load

But from this trip they came back sooner than looked for, and the manner of their return alarmed the boys, who expected momentarily to hear pistol shots fired at them from the shore The threealmost at a run, and as they reached the deck, Mr Perry announced in cautious tones:

”Boys, we'll have to leave that ca for us We don't want to get into a gun battle with the to back out of here as fast as we can”

CHAPTER XXVIII

A Radio Eavesdropper

The Catwhisker was backed out of the narrow inlet or strait, in which she had been moored, without interference on the part of the hostile men on Friday Island Whether or not the latter knew of the departure of the yacht, the men and boys on board had no way to deter and sputtering of the gasoline engine and that they watched proceedings from any of the numerous places of conceal the shore elevations

At any rate, theto the Catwhiskerites and their guests as the yacht worked its way out of the inclosure, and presently they exchanged congratulations one with another on the assurance that they ell out of pistol-shot range froroup of islands

”How far do you think we had better go?” asked Mr Perry addressing the Canadian officer after this matter of concern had been well taken care of

”Oh, I think we ought to find aplace at soet a little sleep before daybreak,” Mr Buckley replied ”I'm sure Mr Baker and I need soot the worst headache right now that I ever had in my life”

”So have I,” Mr Baker chiht, let's not discuss this affair any et your wits together to arrange thequarters possible under the circu is at the caested, but it was not long before they realized that wits could do little for theht Presently they reported back the following results to Mr Perry:

One lounge in the cabin, bedding enough for one of the berths and enough other bedding and articles of clothing to be rolled into pillow substitutes for half a dozen sleepers

Presently Mr Buckley, who had been keeping a sharp lookout ahead in the ht of the Catwhisker, pointed out what see place for the yacht for the rest of the night, and a careful run-in was round The depth proved to be OK, and in a short time the yacht was tied up to a sh to dip soer to waste no ti to nature's nocturnal period of rest, the pillow substitutes were soon rolled and the various sleeping quarters assigned according to varying degrees of necessity Because of their ”sand-bag headaches,” Mr Baker and Mr Buckley were given the cabin lounge and the available staterooainst further intrusion in their new quarters, nevertheless it was deemed wise to maintain a series of one-hour watches, the first of which fell to Mr Perry by his own choice Before the general retirement of all but the first watch, an inspection was made of the stateroom prison, and the boy prisoner was found to be fast asleep on the floor with one ar shortly before the break of day

Bud who had preceded hiether with a supply of stones which he had brought in one of his pockets from Friday Island Hal accepted the catapult with profound respect, expressing full confidence in his ability to repel a formidable array of would-be boarders with a weapon of such knock-out record

After it was light enough for hi, Hal occupied his ti his radio set for service on the yacht once more

When this task was co that he would let the sleepers get another hour's rest, as he could prepare themeal alone almost as quickly as with the aid of one or two others He had already learned the truth of the housewife's axio”

At 7 o'clock he called all the sleepers to breakfast The two ”sand-bag headaches” were no more, and everybody was as cheerful as could have been expected under the circu to do about Bud's prisoner?” Hal inquired as they were about to gather around the cabin table, which ell loaded with appetizing dishes, soive hi for the prison-stateroootten him”

Without more ado, the prisoner was produced and supplied with conveniences to prepare for themeal After he had washed and combed his tousled hair, he presented a fairly respectable appearance and was given a place at the table He sat through the meal without as much as a ”thank you” for dishes passed to hi that he was in anything but a cheerful mood, did not attempt to draw him into conversation