dot. Maype dot Vingate make troubles, hey?"

The boys watched, and presently saw Bossermann come up and join the
pair. Then Bossermann went below to the engine room. Shortly after this
the yacht began to get up steam.

"We're moving!" cried Dora, as she came to the boys, accompanied by
Nellie and Grace. "Oh, what does it mean?"

"I don't know," answered Fred.

"Can't you find out, Fred?" asked Nellie. "I am sure the captain said
nothing about sailing before he went ashore."

"I'll find out--if the mate will tell me," answered Fred.

He walked over to where the mate stood, close to the wheelhouse, giving
directions to the pilot of the _Rainbow_.

"Mr. Carey, where are we bound?" he asked, respectfully.

"Oh, just going to take a little sail around, to test the engine," was
the apparent indifferent answer.

"Is the engine out of order?"

"Not exactly, but I thought it best to test the shaft. The assistant
engineer thinks it is weak."

This was apparently a fair-enough answer and Fred bowed and walked
away. Then he went down the ladder leading to the engine room. He met
Frank Norton coming up. There was a look of concern on the head
engineer's honest face.

"Mr. Norton, is there anything wrong with the engine or the shaft?"
asked Fred.

"Nothing the matter. Why?"

"Mr. Carey said there was, and he is taking a cruise around to test
them--so he says."

"I don't understand it, Garrison. Everything is O.K."

"Are you in charge now?"

"No, this is my hour off. Bossermann is in charge. By the way, I see
Powell went off after the others."

"Yes, and I wish the others were back," answered Fred. He hesitated a
moment. "Mr. Norton, I believe you have been with Captain Barforth a
long time and that you and he are old chums."

"That's right."

"Then I can trust you, can't I? It is something which concerns Captain
Barforth and this vessel very much."

"Sure you can trust me."

Without hesitation, for he felt sure Norton was both honest and
reliable, Fred told his story to the head engineer, who nodded many
times during the recital.

"I see it," whispered Norton. "I suspected something was wrong. Carey
and Bossermann are in some sort of a plot with this Wingate, who came
on board solely to aid that Sid Merrick. I believe Carey is going off
to meet Merrick and see if he can make a deal with him."

"That is what I think. How can we thwart him?"

"Better fire that gun, as a signal to those on shore, first