k came on.

Aleck and Mr. Chamberlain had picked up some of this information at the
last port which the _Sea Gull_ made; but what was of new and real
interest to them now was the story which the old man told them of a
castaway on the island a few days before.

"All hands had abandoned the yacht just before she went down, it
appears. The owner was robbed by his own men and marooned on the
hermit's island--that's the gist of it," said Aleck.

"The hermit said the man wouldn't eat off his table," went on Mr.
Chamberlain; "but asked him for raw eggs and ate them outdoors. Said
that except when he asked for eggs he never spoke without cursing. At
least, the hermit couldn't understand what he said, so he thought it
was cursing. And while the old man was talking," added Chamberlain
resentfully, "that blooming peacock squawked like a demon."

"The yacht that went down, according to the man, was the _Jeanne
D'Arc_," said Aleck, who had been grave enough between all their
light-hearted talk. "I didn't tell you, Chamberlain, that my cousin,
my old chum, went off quite unexpectedly on a boat called the _Jeanne
D'Arc_. Where he went or what for, I don't know. Of course, it may
have been another _Jeanne D'Arc_; it probably was. But it troubles me."

Melanie was instantly aroused. "Oh, I had an uncanny feeling when you
first mentioned the _Jeanne D'Arc_!" she cried. "But could you not
find out more? What became of the man that was marooned?"

"He got off the island a day or two ago," said Aleck. "The people that
brought provisions to the old man took him to the mainland, to
Charlesport."

"The beggar left without so much as thanking the old man for his eggs,"
added Chamberlain.

"We'll put into Charlesport to-night, if you don't mind," said Aleck.
"If I can find the man that was marooned, I may be able to learn
something about Jim, if he really was on the yacht. You can all go
ashore, if you like. There's a big summer hotel near by, and it's a
lovely country."

"We'll stay wherever it's most convenient for you to have us," said
Melanie, looking at Aleck; for once, with more than a friendly interest
in her eyes.

"And perhaps I can help you, Van; two heads, you know," said
Chamberlain.

Aleck, troubled as he was, could not help being grateful to his
friends. So the _Sea Gull_, turned suddenly from her holiday mood,
headed into the harbor of Charlesport.

The village still rang, if so staid a community cou