s right again,"
answered Dan Baxter, earnestly.

When the others heard of Dan Baxter's revelation they were almost as
much astonished as Harold Bird. They were glad to learn that there
was now a likelihood of clearing the young Southerner's father of
the crime of which he had been accused, and all trusted he would soon
be able to locate Mr. Bird and nurse him back to mental and physical
health.

Those on the tug were called on board and then Sack Todd was allowed
to come on deck, followered by the two sailors. All were made prisoners.
Then Gasper Pold and Sid Jeffers came up and were handcuffed.

Gasper Pold was amazed to find himself confronted by Harold Bird,
and when accused of the shooting of the old hunter broke down utterly.
He thought Sack Todd had exposed him, and a bitter war of words
between the pair followed.

"You have done me a splendid service, Baxter," said the young
Southerner, after the excitement was over. "I shall not forget you.
When the proper time comes, if you need legal aid, I'll see to it
that you have a first-class lawyer."

"Thank you," answered the former bully, humbly. "I only did my duty,
which I should have done long ago."

It was found that the _Mermaid_ belonged to persons living at Mobile,
and accordingly the steam yacht and the tug were headed for that
port. The run did not take more than twenty-four hours and when the
_Mermaid_ appeared she created considerable excitement. One of the
owners, James Morrison, soon came to take charge, in the name of the
yacht club, and he assured Dick and the others that the club would
pay anything that was fair for the return of the vessel.

"We have found one thing that bothered us," said Dick. "Perhaps you
can explain it. In a locker we found a picture of Harold Bird and
also a picture of his father."

"I know nothing of them. I did not know Mr. Bird at all."

"I will have Harold show you his father's photograph. Perhaps you'll
recognize him."

The picture was shown and James Morrison uttered a cry of astonishment.

"I know that man, but his name was not Bird. It was Bangs. He worked
on the yacht for awhile--queer sort of stick--and he left rather
suddenly."

"It was Mr. Bird. He went crazy over some personal trouble, and Harold
has been looking all over for him. He was last heard of in Mexico.
But this clears up the mystery of the photographs," Dick added.

And now let me add a few words more and then bring to a close this
tale o