ingly.

About ten o'clock both Bluff and Will began yawning.

"Go to bed, you fellows. Jerry and I will manage the first and second
watches between us. If we want help, we'll knock you up," observed Frank.

He gave Jerry a wink at the same time, as if to notify him to remain up;
and the observant Jerry understood that Frank had a card of some sort
up his sleeve.

"Say, what's in the wind?" he asked in a whisper, when they were left
alone.

Frank put his finger on his lips, as he said in an equally guarded tone:

"Not so loud. I don't want them to hear."

"Then you really expect trouble with those rascally spongers?" demanded
his chum.

"That depends. But I'll tell you what I've decided to do, Jerry."

"Go on; I'm all ears."

"After a bit, I'm going to take the dinghy and paddle over to that
sharpie. Somehow or other, I feel that there is some one there in need of
assistance. Perhaps it's none of our business, and I'm silly to even
think of running such a risk, but something seems to impel me to go; I
can't tell you just what."

"Not alone, Frank? Why not take me along, too?" pleaded Jerry.

"No. One can get along in that stumpy little boat fine, while with two it
is a clumsy affair. You know that. I only mean to hover near, in the
darkness, and find out, if possible, what's doing. Perhaps I may not go
closer than fifty feet--unless something happens!"

Jerry did not insist. He realized that what Frank said was the truth, for
he had had experience with that same cranky little craft when a second
party occupied a place in it.

They sat and talked in low tones for half an hour. Frank made all his
plans, and arranged with his chum a set of signals by means of which
they might communicate with each other even while both were unseen.

"It's getting darker all the while, I do believe. Sure you know where to
find that sharpie?" remarked Jerry as he saw his comrade beginning to
make a move.

"I located her by some palmetto trees that stand up high above all others
on the key there. Unless they've changed their anchorage, which is
unlikely, as we would have heard the noise, I can go straight to the
spot," replied Frank confidently.

"Taking your gun along, of course?"

"I think it wise. Those are tough fellows, and there's no telling what
might happen. Better be on the safe side," remarked the other sagely.

"Well, I'm going to keep my rifle close by, I tell you. And Bluff has his
Gatling gun on the hooks,