,
and with the truly homing instinct started away in the direction of
the fire-flare on the higher land of the island.

Of that muddled company, he was the only one who had the least
knowledge of their whereabouts or guessed that those responsible for
the signal-fire were Colonel Gideon Ward and Eleazar Bodge. He
followed behind, steeling his soul to meet those victims of the
complicated plot. An astonished bleat from Hiram Look, who led the
column, announced them. Colonel Ward was doubled before the fire,
his long arms embracing his thin knees. Eleazar Bodge had just
brought a fresh armful of driftwood to heap on the blaze.

"We thought it would bring help to us," cried the Colonel, who could
not see clearly through the smoke. "We've been left here by a set
of thieves and murderers." He unfolded himself and stood up. "You
get me in reach of a telegraph-office before nine o'clock to-morrow
and I'll make it worth your while."

"By the long-horned heifers of Hebron!" bawled Hiram. "We've come
back to just the place we started from! If you built that fire to
tole us ashore here, I'll have you put into State Prison."

"Here they are, Bodge!" shrieked the Colonel, his teeth chattering,
squirrel-like, in his passion. "Talk about State Prison to me! I'll
have the whole of you put there for bunco-men. You've stolen fifteen
thousand dollars from me. Where is that old hell-hound that's got
my check?"

"Here are six square and responsible citizens of Smyrna that heard
you make your proposition and saw you pass that check," declared
Hiram, stoutly, awake thoroughly, now that his prized plot was
menaced. "It was a trade."

"It was a steal!" The Colonel caught sight of Cap'n Sproul on the
outskirts of the group. "You cash that check and I'll have you behind
bars. I've stopped payment on it."

"Did ye telegraft or ride to the bank on a bicycle?" inquired the
Cap'n, satirically. He came straight up to the fire, pushing the
furious Colonel to one side as he passed him. Angry as Ward was, he
did not dare to resist or attack this grim man who thus came upon
him, dripping, from the sea.

"Keep out of the way of gentlemen who want to dry themselves," grunted
the skipper, and he calmly took possession of the fire, beckoning
his crew to follow him. The Colonel and Mr. Bodge were shut out from
the cheering blaze.

The first thing Cap'n Sproul did, as he squatted down, was to pull
out his wallet and inspect the precious check.

"