e was to waylay the first likely-looking messenger and entrust
the note which Jack had read to him for delivery. After that he was to
spend the time as best he could in suitable seclusion, and after dark
conceal himself near the sign-post. He was not to make any attempt to
secure the money if any one hovered about the place, but if the coast
was clear he was to go boldly in and take it.

Hank was landed at the spot agreed upon, a short time later, and the
other three then resumed their journey for the hydroplane's home port.
As they turned seaward Jack pointed mockingly to Topsail Island, which
lay a short distance on their port bow.

"I'll bet there's plenty going on there right now," he grinned.

"Right you are," assented Bill.

"Hullo," he added hastily the next moment; "what's that?"

He pointed toward the island, and the occupants of the homing
hydroplane saw, slowly rising from it in the still air, four straight
columns of blue smoke.

"Looks like a signal of some kind," suggested Jack after a scrutiny.

"It's coming from about the place where we grabbed the kid," added
Bill, a note of apprehension in his voice.

"I wonder what it signifies?" demanded Jack, whose face began to bear a
somewhat troubled look.

"I can tell you," said Sam shortly, turning round from the wheel.

"You can?"

"Yes."

"Well, hurry up, then--what does it mean?" Jack spoke sharply at Sam's
deliberation.

"It means," said Sam slowly, as if he wanted every word to sink in,
"that the Boy Scouts have picked up your trail."

CHAPTER XX

THE HUNT FOR TENDERFOOT JOE

Rob, Merritt, Tubby Hopkins and Captain Hudgins rested, perspiring
under the noon-day heat, on a group of flat rocks at the highest point
of the island. Their search had been fruitless, and their downcast
faces showed it.

"How ever are we going to break the news to his parents?"

Merritt it was who voiced the question that had been troubling all of
them.

Before any one had time to frame a reply the captain, whose keen eyes
had been gazing about him, gave a sudden shout:

"There's that smoke yonder yer boys were lookin' fer," he exclaimed,
pointing.

"Four columns of it," shouted Rob, "hurray, boys, that means news!
It's 'Come to counsel.' Come on, don't let's lose any time in getting
back."

Rapidly the boys stumbled and ran forward over the rocks and pushed on
among the dense growth that covered the hillside they had climbed.
They hardly n