ntil well into
the afternoon.

"A breeze!" Frank gleefully exclaimed at last, holding up a hand. "The
wind is coming! I feel that if this old boat doesn't get a move on soon,
I shall have to jump overboard and swim ashore."

"Well, I should hope you would take me on your back!" Inza observed, her
voice thrilled with the thought that the long-expected breeze was
actually coming. "I'm as frantic as any one can be to put foot on land
and learn what has happened to our friends and to father!"

The Slocums were ready to go home now, and as the breeze rapidly
increased in strength and gave evidence of having come to stay, they
speedily got the _Sarah Jane_ under way, with the help of Frank and
Bart, and stood off for the Jersey shore. Frank was now perfectly
willing that they should run to Sea Cove direct, for a little thought
and some questions put to the Slocums had shown him that he could reach
New York from there by wire, and by rail from a point near-by, and he
could take a little time to investigate the Barney Mulloy affair.

CHAPTER XXV.

THE GHOST OF BARNEY MULLOY.

"Another calm!" Bart growled, in disgust. Night was approaching, and the
_Sarah Jane_ lay becalmed a mile from shore and nearly ten miles from
Sea Cove. The shore, high and sandy, was plainly visible, with pretty
cottages among some trees a short distance back from the edge of the
water. The Slocums had a good glass, which brought all this out with
much distinctness.

"If we could just draw the land near enough with that glass to jump
ashore!" Inza sighed.

"I've a plan almost as good," said Frank.

This plan was to have the Slocums set them ashore in the dory. By a
little questioning in writing, they learned from the fishermen that the
group of cottages was Glen Springs, and that there was a
telegraph-office there and a daily visit by a small steamer from New
York, but no railway. This increased their anxiety to be set ashore at
Glen Springs, for by putting themselves in telegraphic communication
with New York they could ascertain without delay of the fate of the
_Merry Seas_ and of her passengers.

For a small financial consideration the Slocums were willing to put
Merriwell and his friends ashore in the dory; which was done by Peleg,
who pulled a good, strong stroke, and sent the clumsy boat through the
water at a surprising rate of speed.

"Attack the telegraph-office first," Inza suggested. A telegram to New
York brought this an