together a pleasant business," smiled Harrison. "There are
times when we have disagreeable tasks like the one I had this evening.
Then there are other tasks that are pleasant like another one I
anticipate I may have later on this evening."

"Are you after someone else, too?" queried Arnold.

"Well, yes," admitted Harrison. "But I don't know whether or not I will
be able to locate them. That will, of course, be seen."

"If we can be of any help to you, just let us know and we'll be ready to
render any assistance possible," offered Jack.

"Thank you, boys; I appreciate your kind offer, and you may be able to
help me if my suspicions are correct."

"Why, what has Wyckoff been doing?" inquired Tom.

"Who said it was Wyckoff?" laughingly replied Harrison.

"Well, it seems to be mighty plain that it is he."

"Possibly it is he," admitted the Marshal. "There have been some shady
deals carried through down here lately. Some smuggling and a bad wreck
and one or two other things that the United States Government feels
should be explained. Someone must explain."

"Well, we'll help you all we can when the time comes," cried Tom
heartily. "I'm sure we'll do that."

"Here comes somebody on the wharf," declared Arnold with a hand on
Rowdy's collar. "Wonder who it is now?"

"That's the watchman," said Harrison. "He's got the shovels."

As the watchman delivered the implements to the Marshal he was requested
to keep an eye on the Fortuna. This he promised to do.

"I have an idea," explained Harrison in parting, "that the parties I am
expecting to call will be across the bay, but in case they should come,
hold them even if you have to resort to violence."

"A few more and we'd have a load," remarked Jack as the skiff with its
unusual cargo pulled away from the Fortuna. I'm glad there are enough
boys to go around so we can have one to each oar."

"We have got a crowd, sure enough," admitted Frank. "Did you bring a gun
with you in case something might turn up?"

"Indeed I have," replied Jack. "I am pretty sure the others have theirs,
too," he added. A vote of the crowd showed he was right. Every member of
the Fortuna's regular crew had an automatic.

A short time only was required for the passage across the bay, between
the supports of the railroad bridge and around the point to a spot as
near the fort as Harrison deemed best to approach.

"Hello," cried Tom shaking out the line he had brought for a painter,
"there are