h is coming nearer."

As she spoke, a moving object appeared in the mist. There was no light
upon this strange craft. Chessleigh shuttered his own cockpit lamp
instantly.

"Good boy," acclaimed Ruth. "There is something going on here----"

They heard the call from the island again. There was a low reply from the
strange launch--a whistle. Then the launch pushed on and was hidden by
the mist again from the curious eyes of Ruth and her companion.

But they knew it had gone close to the island, if it had not really
touched there. Its engine was stilled. All they heard for a time was the
lapping of the waves.

"I'd like to know what it means," grumbled Chess.

Ruth agreed. "Let's wait a while. We may hear or see something more."

"Won't see much, I guess," replied her companion.

"Never mind. Let the boat drift. We're all right out here in the current,
are we not?"

"Guess so. It beats my time," said her friend. "They say there is a lot
of smuggling done along the border."

"Do you say so?" gasped Ruth, clasping her hands and almost as excited as
Helen might have been. "Smugglers! Think of it!"

"And bad eggs they are."

"Of course there is no danger?"

"Danger of what?" he asked.

"Wouldn't the smugglers hurt us if we caught them?"

"Don't know. I've got a loaded pistol in the cabin. Guess I'll get it
out," said Chess.

"I guess you won't!" Ruth exclaimed. "We'll go right away from here
before we get into a fight!"

"Humph!" grunted Chess. "You don't suppose they would welcome any spies
if they are smugglers, do you?" he asked.

"But what do they smuggle? Diamonds? Precious stones?"

"Don't know. Maybe. There is a heavy internal revenue tax on diamonds,"
Chess said.

"Goodness! wouldn't Helen like to be here."

"She'd want to go ashore and take a hand in it," grinned Copley. "I know
her."

"Yes, Helen is brave," admitted Ruth.

"Humph! She's foolish, you mean," he declared. "Whatever and whoever
those fellows are, they would not welcome visitors I fancy."

Their launch had been drifting by the island, the upper ridge and trees
of which they could see quite plainly. Suddenly a breath of wind--the
forecast of the breeze that often rises toward daybreak--swooped down
upon the river. It split the mist and revealed quite clearly the upper
end of the island where Ruth had interviewed the queer old man, and which
Copley's launch had now drifted past.

A light showed suddenly, and for a few moments