r, there's a
motor boat coming out from the shore. Let's hail that."

"Hullo, there! Motor boat ahoy!" they all began to yell at the top of
their lungs.

But they might have saved their voices, for the motor boat swung about
in a channel that existed among the shoals and began making straight for
them. Its single occupant waved an encouraging hand as he drew closer.

"In trouble, eh?" he hailed; "well, maybe I can get you off. I saw that
other boat run you down. It was a rascally bit of business."

"Gracious!" cried Jack suddenly, as the motor boat drew closer and they
saw its occupant was a bronzed, middle-aged man with a pleasant face;
"it's Captain Simms of the revenue cutter _Thespis_! What in the world
is he doing up here?"

"If it isn't Jack Ready!" came in hearty tones from the other, almost
simultaneously.

CHAPTER IV.

ON SECRET SERVICE.

There was no question about it. Astonishing as it appeared, the bluff,
sunburned man in the motor boat which was winding its way toward the
_Curlew_, in serpentine fashion, among the tortuous channels, was
Captain Simms, the commander of the revenue cutter on which Jack Ready
had served as "ice-patrol" operator. The greetings between his late
commander and himself were, as might be imagined, cordial, but, owing to
the circumstances under which they were exchanged, somewhat hurried.

"So you've been in a smash-up," cried the captain, as he reduced speed
on nearing the stern of the _Curlew_, which was still afloat. "Nobody
hurt, I hope?"

"Except the boat," smiled Jack with grim humor.

"So I see. A nasty hole," was the captain's comment. "Lucky that I
happen to be camping ashore or you might have stayed out here for some
time. Rivermen hereabouts aren't over-obliging, unless they see big
money in it for their services."

"We'd have been content to pay a good salvage to get off here," Jack
assured him.

"Well, that other craft certainly sheered off in short order after she
hit you," was Captain Simms' comment, as he shut off power and came in
under the _Curlew's_ stern, which projected, as has been said, over
fairly deep water, only the bow being in the mud.

"Then you can tell who was to blame?" asked Billy eagerly.

"I certainly can and will, if I am called upon to do so."

"Thank you," said Jack. "I mean to make them settle for the damage, even
if I have to go to court to do it."

"That's right. It was a bad bit of business. She followed you righ