eck.

"There's the paper you rescued from drowning," said Mark.

"So it is," came from Jack. "I wonder if there's any news in it."

The sheet had dried out and Jack spread it open. No sooner had he
scanned the first page than he uttered a whistle.

"Something startling?" asked Mark.

"Startling! I guess yes! Look here!"

Mark looked over Jack's shoulder. Staring at them, from amid a mass of
other news was the announcement in big black type:

REWARD FOR BOY ANARCHISTS!

Then followed an account of the burning of the hotel at Easton, a vivid
description with pictures, of how it had been blown up in an attempt to
assassinate Lord Peckham, and how the two boys, sons of an English
anarchist, had escaped.

The rest of the story was given over to a description which Jack and
Mark could see was meant for them though it was incorrect in several
particulars. How the boys had escaped the detective, through the trolley
car mishap, was related, and then came the startling announcement that
the hotel authorities had offered a reward of $1,000 for the capture of
either or both of the boy anarchists. To this Lord Peckham had added an
equal sum.

"Well, it looks as if we were of some importance in the world," remarked
Jack.

"Rather," agreed Mark. "Think of having a price on our heads! Well, that
detective certainly is a hustler. When is that paper dated?"

Jack looked and saw that the sheet had been issued in Charleston the day
previous. It had probably been thrown overboard from some steamer, and
had drifted toward shore.

While the boys were speculating over the matter Professor Henderson came
on deck. He saw something was up, and soon had the whole story from the
boys.

"I shouldn't worry about it," said the inventor. "They've got to catch
you first, and it isn't like running away when you know you are guilty.
You boys had no more to do with the fire than the man in the moon. And
we'll soon be beyond the reach of rewards and newspapers."

Nevertheless, the boys brooded over the matter. It seemed that they
were still under a cloud, and they wished very much that it could be
cleared away.

However there were soon busy times. The rising tide floated the boat,
and soon it was riding safely at anchor. The professor needed some small
bits of machinery, and had decided to send the boys to the nearest town
for them. But the news in the paper changed his plans, and he sent Bill
and Washington, who soon returned