'll go forward and try it there."

"Yes, it's a little breezier at the bow, sir. By the way, did
you--er--see me trying to catch some of those firefish just now?"

"I saw you doing something, I didn't see what."

"I thought I might get one, but they are all gone now," answered
Wingate, and slouched off, whistling in that peculiar manner of his.

Sam walked slowly to the bow. As he did this, Wingate turned to look at
him in a speculative way.

"Wonder if the young fool saw what I was up to?" he muttered. "If he
did I'd better go slow. I don't want to get caught. They might treat me
pretty roughly."

The watch on deck was changed and Wingate went below. Asa Carey was in
command of the yacht and he, too, wanted to know why Sam was up at such
a late hour. The boy told him, but said nothing to the mate of
Wingate's strange actions.

When Sam turned in, Dick wanted to know if he was sick.

"No, only restless, Dick," he replied. "By the way, I saw something
strange," he continued, and he related the occurrence.

"We must look into this, Sam. It may mean nothing and it may mean a
great deal," was the eldest Rover boy's comment.

The boys did not go on deck until after breakfast. Then they walked to
the starboard rail and stopped at the spot where Sam had first
discovered the deck hand.

"I don't see anything," said Dick, gazing over the rail. "Perhaps he
was fishing, after all. He may have thought--Hullo!"

"What is it, Dick?"

"Some kind of a line down here--a wire, fastened to a hook!"

"Can you reach it?"

"Hardly. I might if you'll hold my legs, so I don't go overboard."

"Hadn't we better tell Captain Barforth of this first? The wire may
belong there."

"I don't know what for. But we can tell the captain. Here he comes
now."

"Good morning, boys," said the master of the steam yacht pleasantly.
"What can you see over there?"

"Something we think unusual," said Sam. "Please take a look and tell us
what it is."

Captain Barforth did as requested.

"That wire has no business there," he declared. "I don't know how it
came there."

"I can tell you how it got there, and I guess you'll find something
like it on the other side," answered Sam, and told what he had seen
Wingate do during the night.

"Humph, I'll investigate this," muttered the captain, and went off for
a boathook. When he returned he caught the hook into the loop of the
wire and tried to bring the end of the strand to the deck. He was