he had sold the bonds
and was forwarding the money. Close upon the message from the attorney
came one from the ship-chandlers at Port Angeles. They were shipping the
gear in the early morning. Gregory heaved two great sighs of relief
which adequately expressed his feelings at the contents of the two
respective messages.

The day had ended better than he anticipated. The _Pelican_ and the
_Curlew_ were at Diablo by now. He should hear from them any minute.
While he was waiting there was much that he could do. He took up his
personal bank-book and began to balance it. A low rap at the office-door
interrupted him.

Dickie Lang entered with McCoy and Hawkins.

"We've been out for a walk," she announced. "Thought we'd stop in and
see if you'd heard anything from the boys yet."

"Not yet," Gregory answered. "I'm going to keep a man at the key all
night. We should have heard before this. They got a fairly early start
and with good weather should have hit the island in time to get a good
line on things before dark. I just got a wire from the ship-chandlers
and they are shipping the stuff the first thing in the morning."

As the talk turned to Diablo, Hawkins listened attentively though he
said but little. At length the party rose to go.

As Gregory was bidding them good night one of the radio men entered with
a message. Gregory glanced at the meaningless jumble of words and shook
his head.

"Too much for me," he announced. "I haven't savvied the code out well
enough yet to read this one."

The operator again took the message.

"Haven't been using it long," he answered. "But one of the boys dropped
on to a little rig on one of the cliffs a little way from here, so we
thought it was just as well to be careful."

Gregory nodded and the company drew closer to the operator as he bent
over his work. When the message was decoded it read:

Off Northwest Harbor El Diablo

From: Launch _Pelican_.

Albacore tuna running close shore this end. Slipped
round Mascola's boats by running round south shore. His
fleet off Hell-Hole Isthmus. Spotted them hour ago.
Don't think he's wise we're here. Can load up fleet if
they get here quick and can dodge by Mascola. What shall
we do?

The message was signed by Tom Howard.

Dickie beamed at the news.

"I know right where he is," she said. "When you get them that close in
at this time of the year it means they are running