hy didn't
you tell him?"

"We'll discuss that later," was the smiling reply.

"Anyway," Jimmie said, "we're rid of the old bluffer, and may be able to
do somethin', if he stays away long enough."

"You came near spoiling the whole thing," declared Jack, grinning at
Jimmie. "You and your talk about twisted spark-plugs! You'd have been
finding worn places in the spark next! You know about as much of a motor
boat as a pig knows of the hobble skirt. Good thing the Major knows less
about a boat than you do!"

"Why didn't he use the wire, instead of going off on that long journey?"
asked Jimmie.

"The government can't lay cables to all these tiny islands," Captain
Godwin replied, "but we are promised a wireless outfit before the season
closes. Now, if you are ready," he added, turning to Ned, "we'll go back
to the hut and make the examination suggested. I'm afraid there was a
tragedy there last night."

"Are any of the people missing from the pueblo?" asked Ned, as the boat
came to the dock and they all stepped ashore.

"Not a man missing," was the reply.

"Have you talked with the man who was sent to the hut to wait on the
Lieutenant and his companions?"

"Only briefly," was the reply, "but he will be at the hut when we get
there. He is rather above the average native in intelligence, and may be
able to throw some light on the mystery."

"Is he dependable?" asked Ned.

"I think so. He has been with me for a long time, ever since I came to
this out-of-the-way jumping-off place."

"Well," Ned said, "you go back to the hut, if you will be so kind, and
take the boys with you. I want to look about a little."

Captain Godwin hesitated, but Jack started away.

"Let Ned alone," he said. "He'll be giving us the shape of the aeroplane
the Lieutenant and his men sailed away in before long!"

"He wants to consult the dream book," added Jimmie.

Frank Shaw, who had been sitting on the bridge deck of the _Manhattan_
during this conversation, now sprang ashore and followed along after
Ned.

"You ginks do a lot of talking!" he said. "Run along with the Captain
and I'll take care of Ned."

Ned and Frank examined the ground around the pier and walked up and down
the river bank for some distance. Save here and there where the natives
drew up their canoes, and where the women came down with the meager
family washing, the bank on the pueblo side was covered with a growth of
bushes except where the little pier ran out in f