iling
vessel. She has the right of way and seems to be taking it. But we can
easily dodge her with our powerful engines."

Closer and closer came the schooner until it seemed that she would
surely collide with the motor-boat. When scarcely more than a length
Away from the Fortuna, the schooner was brought sharply about on the
other tack. As she came about a clear cut whistle sounded shrilly in the
morning air:

"Bob White! Bob, Bob White!"

"Gracious!" cried Frank springing to his feet. "The Bob White."

Instantly he was on deck sending ringing across the water his answer to
the challenge of his Patrol:

"Bob White! Bob, Bob White!"

The men on the schooner laughed coarsely as the boy waited for an answer
to his challenge. The two vessels were drawing farther apart now. Their
voices were indistinguishable, but once more came the call:

"Bob White! Bob, Bob--"

Suddenly the call stopped as if a hand had been placed over the face of
the one making the cry. The crew of the Fortuna stared at one another in
wide eyed wonderment. They all were thinking rapidly and each seemed to
have formed the same conclusion.

"Shall I follow them, Captain?" asked Tom addressing Jack.

"I'd like to," Jack replied, "but I don't think it wise. It may be that
Charley Burnett is aboard that, schooner and that the schooner is the
one that chased and fired at us yesterday. We are not sure of either
supposition. If he's aboard, he's still alive. If he was not on board
and one of the crew did the whistling, we would have our trouble for our
pains and be laughed at and perhaps insulted into the bargain. We'd
better wait a while, I think."

"But maybe he is there and wants to get off," declared Arnold.

"Possibly," agreed Jack. "But in that case if we were to attempt to
rescue him by force, that crew is too powerful for us to overcome unless
we run alongside and shoot them down mercilessly. We are not prepared to
do that just yet, I hope. What's your idea concerning, this, Frank?" he
continued addressing his friend.

"It's pretty hard to say it, but I really believe you're right, Jack,"
answered Frank holding out his hand. "'You are right."

"Thank you," said Jack. "I believe this thing will come out all right
without any serious harm to your chum or to us."

If Jack could only have looked into the future he might not have spoken
so confidently nor have believed his own words so much.

The run back to the harbor occupied but littl