cronies slunk
off through the crowd, and having placed the rejected model in the
buggy, drove off into the country in no very amiable or enviable frame
of mind.

"Well, you made a fine mess of it," grumbled Bill Bender savagely. "I
told you to look carefully and see that all the tags were off it."

"It's no more my fault than yours," grated out Jack, lashing the horse
savagely, to work off some of his rage. "It's all the fault of those
young cubs of Rob Blake's. Let them look out, though, for I'll get
even with them before long, and in a way that will make them sit up and
take notice."

"Don't forget that young mischief maker, Joe Digby," suggested Bill
Bender. "It was all his fault--the young spy!"

"Oh, I'll attend to him," Jack assured his chum, with a grating laugh
that boded no good for the youngest member of the Eagle Patrol.

CHAPTER XI

A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY

"Want to go fishing?" Rob inquired over the telephone of Merritt
Crawford a few days later.

"Sure," was the response.

"We can run into Topsail Island and get a site for the camp picked at
the same time," suggested Rob.

"Bully! I'll meet you at the wharf. Going to bring Tubby?"

"You bet! We'll be there in ten minutes."

"All right. Good-by."

At the time set the three boys met on the wharf of the yacht club, and
were speedily ready to start on their trip. Rob brought along bluefish
squids and lines, and Tubby--never at a loss to scare up a hurried
lunch--had a basket full of good things to eat.

The run to the island was made without incident, and the boys were glad
to see that, contrary to the captain's fears, his dog Skipper was all
right again, for the animal came bounding and barking down the wharf as
they drew near, in token of his gladness to see them.

Attracted by his dog's barking, the old captain, who was at work in a
small potato patch he cultivated, came hobbling to meet the boys as
they tied up and disembarked.

"Well, well, boys; come ter stay?" he cheerily remarked, as the three
lads shook hands.

"No, we're off after 'blues,"' said Rob; "but we thought we'd drop in
and see how things are coming along with you, and if you have heard any
news yet concerning the robbery."

"Not a thing, boys, not a thing," said the old man. "In fact, I
haven't left the island since my old safe was busted open. Skipper, as
yer see, got over his sickness. It's my belief that them fellers fed
him poisoned meat or somet