motor cruising yacht built for deep sea work. Though the
"Soudan" had a very comfortable beam of fifteen feet, she was
nevertheless equipped with twin gasoline motors that could send her
over the waters at some twenty-five or twenty-six miles an hour.

With the gift of the boat to Tom and Joe came also a present of money
enough to make the two new young owners able to put her in commission
and keep her going for awhile.

It was not intended by Messrs. Delavan and Moddridge that Tom Halstead
and Joe Dawson should be able to keep their new prize and property
running for their own pleasure. On the contrary the givers of this
splendid present believed that the two boys would ply under charter
for wealthy pleasure seekers, thus making a splendid living. In summer
there were the northern waters; in winter the southern waters. Thus it
was believed that Captain Tom Halstead and Engineer Joe Dawson would
be in a position to earn a handsome income from their boat the year
around. At any time, should they so choose, they could sell the boat.

Sell her? It would almost have broken honest, impulsive, loyal Tom
Halstead's heart to sell this precious boat! Joe Dawson, quiet though
he was, would have flown into a rage at any suggestion of his parting
with his interest in the handsome, capable little craft!

The owners had re-christened the boat the "Restless." Within ten days
after the boys had left the employ of Mr. Delavan, Captain Tom had
encountered Mr. Powell Seaton in New York. A few hours after that
meeting the boys had had their boat chartered for at least the month
of September. Then, after receiving their orders, they proceeded south
to their present location on Lonely Island, five miles off the
mainland. They were accompanied by Hank Butts, who had left his small
boat in other hands and accepted temporary employment on the
"Restless."

The island possessed an area of about half a square mile. The bungalow
itself, a shed that was used as an electric power station, and a third
building that contained a telescope and some other astronomical
apparatus were the sole interesting features of this island.

After the chartering, and the payment of half the hire-money in
advance for the month, not one of these Motor Boat Club boys had laid
eyes on Mr. Powell Seaton. After cruising down from New York, and
taking possession of the bungalow, as ordered, they had remained there
ten whole days, idle and wondering. Idle, that is, exc