thing about the
thieves being young chaps, with smooth faces.
This is the boat to a dot; and I reckon we've
got our men!"

But even he was more or less shaken when he
came to look into the smiling countenance of
Jack Stormways.

"Take a look around," he said, presently.
"Perhaps you may find the evidence we want,
and the plunder. These are the days of the
young men. I've known mere kids to
undertake jobs that long ago would have staggered
old professionals."

While two of the men were upsetting things
in their eager search, the man who had been
called "Captain" once more turned to Jack.

"Who are you fellows, where'd you come
from, and what are you doing here up this
creek?" he demanded, harshly, as though expecting
to scare the other into a confession of guilt.

"My name is Jack Stormways, and his is
Jimmie Brannagan. We are on our way south
on a little race to New Orleans. There are two
other motor boats in the match, and a prize of
the Dixie silver cup falls to the winner."

"Well, you've got that down fine, anyhow,"
remarked the big officer, with what sounded
like a sneer. "Perhaps it's the truth, and again
it may be all hatched up to pull the wool over
the eyes of honest officers. What would you
think if I told you there was a thousand
dollars reward out for each of you if taken; and
five times that if the swag is found intact?"

"I'd think some one was valuing me pretty
high, considering that I've never as yet done
anything to make it worth while capturing
me," replied Jack, pleasantly.

His manner was apparently having an effect
on the burly officer, who again surveyed the
face of the boy by the aid of his own dark
lantern. The two men were all this while making
a sad mess of things in the boat, turning
waterproof clothes bags inside out, upsetting the
stores so neatly packed away in order to give
all the room possible, and making things look
"sick" as Jimmie afterwards observed.

"What's that you've got, Grogan?" suddenly
demanded the captain, as he saw one of
the others looking closely at something he had
picked up.

"A newspaper with something marked by a
blue pencil, Cap," replied the other. "And by
the powers, if it ain' an account of that
Waverly robbery, too!"

Immediately the captain became severe
again, and shot a triumphant look at the boy,
even as he let a heavy hand fall on Jack's shoulder.

"Say you so, Grogan?" he exclaimed.
"Hold it out here, so I can see.