lk with you
about that billiard-room business."

The lamp in Baxter's hand shook.

"God A'mighty's got his eye on that place, Eri Hedge," he shouted, "and
on them that's runnin' it!"

"That's all right," said the Captain. "Then the job's in good hands, and
we ain't got to worry. Good-night."

But, in spite of this assurance, Hazeltine noticed that his driver was
silent and preoccupied until they reached the end of the road by the
shore, when he brought the willing Daniel to a stand still and announced
that it was time to "change cars."

It is a fifteen-minute row from the mainland to the outer beach, and
Captain Eri made it on schedule time. Hazeltine protested that he was
used to a boat, and could go alone and return the dory in the morning,
but the Captain wouldn't hear of it. The dory slid up on the sand and
the passenger climbed out. The sound of the surf on the ocean side of
the beach was no longer a steady roar, it was broken into splashing
plunges and hisses with, running through it, a series of blows like
those of a muffled hammer. The wind was wet and smelt salty.

"There's the station," said the Captain, pointing to a row of lighted
windows a quarter of a mile away. "It IS straight ahead this time, and
the walkin's better'n it has been for the last few minutes. Good-night!"

The electrician put his hand in his pocket, hesitated, and then withdrew
it, empty.

"I'm very much obliged to you for all this," he said. "I'm glad to have
made your acquaintance, and I hope we shall see each other often."

"Same here!" said the Captain heartily. "We're likely to git together
once in a while, seein' as we're next-door neighbors, right across the
road, as you might say. That's my berth over yonder, where you see them
lights. It's jest 'round the corner from the road we drove down last.
Good-night! Good luck to you!"

And he settled himself for the row home.

CHAPTER III

THE "COME-OUTERS'" MEETING

The house where the three Captains lived was as near salt water as it
could be and remain out of reach of the highest tides. When Captain Eri,
after beaching and anchoring his dory and stabling Daniel for the night,
entered the dining room he found his two messmates deep in consultation,
and with evidences of strenuous mental struggle written upon their
faces. Captain Perez's right hand was smeared with ink and there were
several spatters of the same fluid on Captain Jerry's perspiring nose.
Crumpled sheet