y that I could,"
confessed the fellow, hanging his head.

"That was why you tried to ruin our aerials?"

"Yes."

"You also listened to Mr. Seaton and myself, the night we were going
over to Lonely Island?"

Jasper squirmed, his face growing more ashen.

"You heard what was said about papers hidden in a cupboard at the
bungalow. Did you? Answer me, confound you!"

With an appearance of utter rage Tom bounded at the fellow, as though
about to attack him. Hank closed in, to be ready in case the attack
turned out to be a genuine one.

"Yes, I stole an envelope full of papers," admitted Jasper.

"What did you do with them?"

"I turned them over to Dave Lemly."

"Where? On Lonely Island?"

"Yes; Lemly visited the island twice, at night, while I was on duty
there," confessed the fellow, whining and letting his head fall
lower.

"What else have you done against us?"

"Nothing, except trying to disable your wireless."

"Are you telling the whole, full truth?" demanded Captain Tom
Halstead, surveying the fellow suspiciously. "As much of the truth as
you want to lay bare before going to the bottom in this wild storm?"

"Yes! Oh, yes, yes!" insisted Jasper, easily. "Now, I've cleared my
conscience of its load!"

"Humph!" muttered Tom Halstead, dryly.

At that moment a snapping sound overhead reached their ears. The
"Restless" veered about, then heeled dangerously.

"Our second and last sail has gone!" cried the young skipper, starting
forward. "Jasper, I hope you have told me the whole truth, for there
is no knowing, now, how soon you'll start for the bottom--how soon
we'll all go down. Helpless in this sea, the 'Restless' may 'turn
turtle.'"

Nor was Tom speaking in jest, nor in any effort to scare the recent
prisoner into a fuller confession. Indeed, the motor boat captain was
paying no further heed to the wretch, but making his way forward.
Jasper started to follow, Hank bringing up the rear.

As they reached the motor room the pitching and rolling of the boat
were awesome enough. It seemed incredible that a boat the size of the
"Restless" could live even a minute in her now helpless condition.

Joe still stood at the wheel, white-faced but calm.

"I don't see what we can do now, Tom," he shouted.

"Nothing but get down to the wireless, and do anything you can in the
way of picking up some steamship," Halstead answered. "We might get a
tow, or, at least, another spread of canvas for a third try to