at makes you think so?" asked Allen, after the crabber had spoken of
his belief, and mentioned the absence of the schooner as evidence.

"Because that vessel has been hanging around here on purpose to work off
some such scheme as that! Take my word for it, the girls are aboard
her. Pete and his woman Mag haven't gone off together for nothin'. The
girls are on the _Spud_, and bad luck to her for a sneaky craft!"

"There's no time to lose!" he went on. "We've got to take after 'em, and
locate her before nightfall. We need a fast boat----"

"The _Pocohontas_ is in good trim!" interrupted Allen.

"The very thing!" cried Tin-Back. "Hurray! This is like old times! I'm
with you!" and he clapped his hand on his thigh with a report like a
pistol shot. "To the rescue!" he cried.

CHAPTER XXV

ALL'S WELL--CONCLUSION

"All aboard!"

It was the tense voice of Allen Washburn calling, as he and his chums
clambered aboard the _Pocohontas_. There had been a hurried filling of
the gasoline and oil tanks after the suggestion offered by Tin-Back,
that the disappearance of the mysterious schooner was coincident with
the disappearance of the girls.

"If she only will run," ventured Roy, who was in charge of the motor.

"She's _got_ to run!" declared Allen, fiercely. Not all of the party
went in the motor boat. Mrs. Nelson did not feel equal to the task, but
Mollie said she would go, for her girl chums might need her in case they
were found.

Tin-Back went, of course, with Henry, Allen and Roy. Will volunteered to
stay with Mrs. Nelson and Grace. At first he had begged to be taken
along, but some one had to stay to be the "man of the house," and I
think, after all, Will wanted to get another look at the diamonds, in
which he now had so strong and growing an interest.

"Let her go!" cried Allen, and the motor boat glided away from the
little dock. It was late afternoon, and while the threatened storm had
held off, the daylight was fast fading.

Fortunately they had a clue as to the direction the schooner had taken
after leaving her anchorage. The man at the life saving station had
observed her beating out on a long tack. He had noticed her through a
glass, but had taken no note of any girls that might have been put
aboard. But the wind was now quite strong, and the schooner would hardly
sail against it. So our friends had a certain fairly sure direction to
follow.

Will and Mrs. Nelson, with Grace and Percy, went back