ort Angeles. That will
run into a big bunch of money at present prices."

"You're not the only one who has ideas to-night," Dickie said softly.
"Being around Diablo always makes me think--and wonder."

"What?" Gregory encouraged.

The girl moved closer to his side.

"I'm wondering about the same things our fathers wondered about," she
said. As Gregory said nothing, she went on hurriedly: "Did you ever stop
to think that if Mascola and that gray boat lay in at Hell-Hole that
they are doing it with Bandrist's permission? That means that whatever
they are doing there, Bandrist is in on it." She paused abruptly and her
eyes rested full on Gregory's face. "I have an idea that old Rock is in
on it, too," she said. "He and Bandrist are pretty thick evidently, and
Rock always did stick up for Mascola. And all three of them are doing
all they can against us."

"And you think it is something else than fishing?" Gregory prompted.

"Yes, I'm sure of it. I think our fathers had the same idea. I believe
they came over here alone that night to find out."

"Do you think----" Gregory began.

But the girl answered his unfinished question.

"Yes," she said slowly, "I think they found out. That is why they never
got out alive."

"But they were wrecked and drowned."

Dickie shook her head slowly. "I have never thought so," she answered in
a half-whisper. "Listen," she went on, "boats like the _Sea Gull_ don't
wreck themselves and a better man with a launch than my dad never lived.
Men like him don't drown easily. He was a regular fish in the water and
had got out of many a smash-up before."

"But they were drowned. The coroner himself told me----"

"You're right," she interrupted. "Any man can be drowned. How long do
you suppose you and Tom Howard would have lasted on the island if you
had insisted on staying the night we were over here?"

Gregory considered her words carefully. In the light of past events,
they held some truth. But if Bill Lang and his father had met with foul
play, why were the bodies ever recovered? Why would it not have been
simpler to have made way with them entirely? He put the question and
Dickie answered promptly:

"That would have caused a search of the island. Just what they do not
want, if they are up to anything crooked over here. With the bodies
recovered and the boat smashed, it had all the appearance of a natural
wreck."

"Why have you never said anything like this before?"

Dickie hesit