By whom? He put the question.

The girl's fingers tightened on his arm and she placed her lips close to
his ear.

"A number of men overpowered them on the beach and drowned them. Mascola
was with them."

Gregory's jaws locked and the muscles of his body grew tense. Mascola
had murdered his father and Bill Lang. Releasing the girl, he hurried
over to the three men who were talking to the Mexican and grasped
Hawkins by the arm.

"What are we waiting for?" he cried. "While you're talking the man may
get away."

"Just a minute, Cap," Hawkins remonstrated. "Things are coming along
fine. Billings and Slade are learning a lot from the Mex. As soon as
they get him filled up with those sandwiches he's going to show us the
wireless tower and the cove where the _Gray Ghost_ put in to-night. He
says there's a cave close by where he saw----"

Gregory shook off his restraining arm.

"What is all that to me?" he flashed. "Don't you know that Mascola
murdered my father? Let the men go where they will. I'm going after
Mascola."

Hawkins started at Gregory's words.

"I didn't know, Cap," he muttered blankly. For a brief instant he strove
to express his sympathy for his friend. Then he gave it up. "Brace up,
old man," he said at last. "Take a grip on yourself. You can't do
anything over here alone. Before morning we'll have the whole gang
rounded up and Mascola with them. I guess the boys are ready to go now."

Gregory shivered in his wet clothes and Hawkins pressed his slicker upon
him. While the men took their places in the skiff Gregory found Dickie
Lang. The girl came into his outstretched arms and clung close to him in
the darkness.

"Take me with you," she pleaded. "Don't leave me here. I can't stand
it."

He released her gently and shook his head.

"No, dearest," he said softly. "If you were with us I might be afraid.
And I can't afford to be afraid to-night. Stay close and keep under
cover. If the fog lifts, pull the anchor and drift in to the shadow of
the rocks."

"Why don't you tell me what you are going to do?" the girl asked. "You
know that----"

Gregory drew her closer.

"I'm going to get Mascola," he answered in a whisper. Then his voice
changed suddenly. "And if I don't come back," he went on. "You'll know
now that I love you."

For an instant his lips met hers. Then he climbed over the coaming and
joined the men in the dory. Dickie listened to the soft creak of the
oar-locks until the sound was n