It was an unexpected turn of affairs, and the boys were glad the
contest had ended in their favor. They were congratulated on all
sides, and jokingly asked what they were going to do with the money,
which was likely to be quite a large sum.

"We're going to buy a whaling vessel, make Mr. Trent captain, and go
into the business," said Andy with a laugh. He looked around for his
brother, and saw Frank talking to Kett.

"I heard you say something about seeing a boat towing something you
thought was the whale, but which turned out to be a wrecked motor
boat," began the elder Racer lad. "What sort of a boat was the wrecked
one?"

"Well, it was pretty big, with a hood up forward, and it looked as if
it had been in a fire. It was all blacked."

"A fire!" cried Frank eagerly, as the memory of the boat from which
Paul Gale had been rescued came to him. "Are you sure of this?"

"Certain. We were right close to 'em. That's what made us lose so
much time. If we'd taken after you boys in the first place we might
have found the whale ourselves."

"Bob Trent sighted the whale before he came for us," explained Frank,
"so he'd have first claim on it anyhow. But which way was the motor
boat going?"

"Along toward Seabright. Then it got hazy and we lost sight of it."

"Did you notice whether there was a tall, dark man aboard?" asked Frank
eagerly.

"Yes, there was such a chap," broke in Bill Lowden. "And he seemed
mighty anxious about the wrecked boat in tow. Why, do you know him?"

"I don't know--I've met him," said Frank, as he quickly turned to join
his brother. Then he whispered to Andy: "Come away, I've got on the
track of the mysterious man and the wrecked motor boat. I want to talk
to you."

Wonderingly, Andy followed. There was no need to stay and guard the
whale, as Kett and his crowd were preparing to leave. Soon Andy had
been told all that Frank had learned.

"What are you going to do?" asked the younger brother.

"We'll go to Seabright the first thing in the morning. Maybe we can
find the man there. I believe we're on the right track. Let's go and
tell Paul."

There was no little excitement in the Racer home when Andy and Frank
arrived with their tale of the sea, the whale, and the quarrel about
it. So interested were Mr. and Mrs. Racer that they did not chide
their sons for their partial disobedience of orders. As for Paul, he
leaned forward eagerly in the easy chair, listening to the t