as to prevent the deputy from covering the southerly section of Core
Sound with his field-glasses in order to detect any attempt to retrace
the route by the Doctor in the tender. This launch having been
dispatched, _The Hialdo_ resumed her course, with the other boats still
in tow.

The next objective in the cruise was Atlantic--a long way up the Sound.
Thence, it was the intention to send the other chartered boat back along
the westerly shore, with instructions to go into every inlet and cove
and bay, no matter how small, provided they could navigate it, there to
make diligent inquiry of every person seen on the shores.

Van Dusen had already prepared reward notices, offering five thousand
dollars for the safe return of Ethel Marion, and one thousand dollars
for the capture of her abductor. These posters were given to the
deputies with instructions that they should be posted in every fishing
hamlet. It was the belief of the detective that the effect of these
would be to send out a swarm of fishing boats to search every nook and
cranny of the territory.

Before turning in from the main channel to the pier at Atlantic, Van
Dusen had the second patrol boat turned loose under the charge of his
deputy. He gave instructions that four blasts of the yacht's siren
should be understood as a signal for the smaller craft to return to _The
Hialdo_.

It was learned beyond doubt at Atlantic that the Doctor and Ethel had
been there. There were a score of witnesses to the fact. The entire
hamlet was loud in its praises of this stranger, who, by his skill, had
saved a life without thought of fee. Captain Ichabod's anxious inquiries
elicited the information that there was indeed a Dominick rooster aboard
the tender, perched on the forward deck. One boy, of a fine imaginative
mind, declared that the bird was tethered by a string tied to one of his
legs. That false information stirred the wrath of Uncle Icky, so that he
was moved to mutter:

"Yep, I reckin they're a-savin' 'im fer broth--consarn 'em!"

At the principal store in the town, soon after the arrival of the yacht,
there was a scene of unusual excitement. Conspicuously posted was the
notice typewritten by Van Dusen of the reward for Doctor Garnet's
capture. But here sentiment was overwhelmingly strong in the physician's
favor. A local orator made an impassioned speech to defend this
wonderful physician, who had shown such ability in saving of life
without charge. He insiste