ing well in toward shore he was soon in the lee of the
island where no breeze could reach him. After that, it was simple work.
The moon stayed out long enough to guide him to shore and then retired
again. A few minutes' work on the beach sufficed to bring all the boats
out of the water. He worked quietly, for he had no wish to explain the
night's happenings then; he wanted only to tumble into bed and go to
sleep. Softly he felt his way through the brush--it was too dark to find
the path--crossed the clearing and at length found his tent and crept
quietly into bed. The next thing he knew the canvas overhead was a
moving pattern of sunlight and shadow and Chub was pulling him out of
bed by one foot.

[Illustration: "Then, slowly, he headed away in the darkness"]

CHAPTER XXI

FERRY HILL CHANGES ITS LEADER

The presence of the strange boats on the Inner Beach was not discovered
until just before breakfast. Roy had said nothing to anyone of the
night's adventures. Otto Ferris was noisily hammering a spoon on a new
dish-pan when Kirby burst excitedly on to the scene.

"Mr. Buckman, there are three new boats on the beach, sir!"

"New boats?"

"Yes, sir, rowboats."

"Where did they come from? Whose are they?" asked the instructor,
bewilderedly.

"I don't know, sir. They're not ours."

"Someone must have come in the night," said Horace. "Maybe campers."

"Well, after breakfast we'll have a look around," said Mr. Buckman.

As soon as grace had been said Roy spoke up.

"Those boats belong to Hammond, Mr. Buckman," he said.

"To Hammond? How do you know, Porter? What are they doing here?"

"I brought them, sir."

A howl of laughter arose. Mr. Buckman smiled genially.

"I suppose there's a joke somewhere," he said. "Get rid of it, Porter."

"Well, yes, there is a joke, sir," answered Roy quietly. "And I guess
it's on Hammond."

Something in his tone silenced the laughter and from one end of the
trestle table to the other the fellows forgot the sizzling ham and eggs
before them and looked eagerly at Roy.

"You've been up to something!" cried Chub.

"I've been up half the night," answered Roy.

Excited yells and exclamations followed this announcement. Fellows
jumped from their places and crowded about him.

"Out with it!" they cried. "What's up? Where did you find the boats?
When was it?"

And so Roy began at the beginning, hugely enjoying the amazement the
story created. Time and again he was