muscles responded to the fevered
call of his brain. Suddenly he felt the dory strike a heavy object
ahead. Thrown half from his seat by the impact he dropped an oar,
regained it on the instant and pushed the skiff away from the launch as
hands reached out to grasp it. Then he heard the low murmur of voices
from the motor-boat. As he headed close in to the rocks he felt the
stern of the dory dip sharply.

* * * * *

Gregory whirled at the sharp rattle of oars and raced down the beach in
the direction of the dory. Some one was meddling with their boat. When
he reached the place where they had left the skiff, he found it gone.
From the waters of the little cove came the creak of oar-locks. Plunging
into the water, Gregory swam rapidly in the direction of the launch.
Whoever had taken the boat was heading straight for the _Richard_.

A sharp bump sounded close ahead and Gregory redoubled his efforts to
reach the side of the launch. Then he narrowly escaped being run down by
the small boat which had turned and was heading in for the rocks.
Grasping the stern of the dory as it moved by him, he hung for a moment
while he regained his wind, striving vainly to ascertain how many
passengers the skiff carried.

Suddenly he noticed that the oars no longer disturbed the water and the
skiff had lost its way. Then he heard the sound of shuffling footsteps
coming toward the stern. Releasing his hold, he swam along the side and
caught the bow, dragged his body from the water and tumbled into the
boat. The same instant a heavy oar crashed against the seat close to his
head and a dark figure flung itself upon him.

It was but the work of a moment for Gregory to overpower the thief of
the small boat and bind him with the dory's painter. The man had fought
desperately only for a moment, then collapsed, and gibbering with fear
had allowed himself to be bound without a struggle.

Turning the skiff about, Gregory started for the launch. Had the man
landed others on the _Richard_? Surely he had reached the speed-boat and
had put about. Was he bent only upon stealing the boat or was he only
one of many who would be down upon them any minute?

Arriving alongside the _Richard_ Dickie hailed him softly.

"Some fellow tried to steal our boat," he explained to the girl. "If
you'll get Billings to help me get him aboard I'll go back and pick up
the boys."

Dickie's companion in the launch assisted him in lifti