ut
him in the house. I think you three had better turn in on the boat and
get some sleep. Then, soon after daylight, I can have the guard at the
wharf rouse you, for I want you to go over to Beaufort and get
supplies for repairing the wireless outfit at the earliest hour.
Things are likely to happen soon that will make it dangerous for me to
be without wireless communication with land and sea."

Twenty minutes later the three Motor Boat Club boys were stretched out
in their berths in the motor room. It was considerably later, though,
ere sleep came to them. When slumber did reach their eyes they slept
soundly until called by the guard.

Hank prepared a breakfast in record time. After eating this, and after
Hank had been sent up to the house to learn whether there were any
further orders, the Motor Boat Club boys were ready to cast off.

Once they were under way, Hank, not being needed, went aft to stretch
himself on one of the cabin cushions. Joe, having his motors running
smoothly, followed Hank into the cabin. Dawson, however, did not seek
further sleep. He wanted to make a more thorough test than he had done
a few hours before, in order to make sure that the vandals locked in
there the night before had not thought to destroy his beloved wireless
instruments or connections.

"The whole wireless plant is in shape for instant use," he reported,
coming back at last to the bridge deck.

"That's mighty good news," declared Tom Halstead. "With the man we are
working for now we're likely to need the wireless at any minute in the
twenty-four hours."

"Say," ejaculated Joe, after a few moments of silent thought, "there's
something hugely mysterious and uncanny back of all these doings of
less than twenty-four hours. I wonder what that big mystery really
is?"

CHAPTER VIII

THE RED MESSAGE

When the boys reached Beaufort and had tied up at a wharf, it was
still too early to expect to find any shops open. They left Hank on
watch, however, and went up into the town, Joe to look, presently, for
a dealer in electrical supplies, while Captain Tom sought a ship's
joiner to fit and hang a new hatch to replace that smashed in the
affair of the night before. Both boys were presently successful,
though it was noon before the joiner had his task finished.

While the last of the work on the new hatch was being done, Tom and
Joe went once more uptown to get a message from Mr. Seaton's attorney
regarding the date when t