and Blumpo
undertook to steer the yacht toward shore. The craft was becoming so
water-logged that she acted clumsily, and they had their hands full.

"We is gwine down, suah!" groaned Blumpo, but as he spoke the keel grated
on the sand, and a moment later she swung around hard and fast, and the
danger of sinking was past.

While Jack and Blumpo lowered the sails, Harry and Jerry carried several
lines ashore and tied them to the trees in such a fashion that the yacht
could not pound herself, even if the wind came up.

After the sails were lowered old Jack inspected the damage done.

"I can patch the main-sail in an hour," he said. "But that hole at the bow
will take three, and I ought to have more tools than I've got aboard."

"Can't we patch things up sufficiently to take her back into Lakeview?"
asked Harry.

"Maybe we can. But it would be better on account of the wind to steer for
Rockpoint. She couldn't stand the chop sea on the other course."

"All right; we'll steer for Rockpoint, and take her over to Dan Mason's
boatyard."

Blumpo ran down the shore of the island to tell his father of what had
happened. While he was gone the others patched up the break at the bow
with some thin wood and a square of canvas, tacked on, and gave all a
coating of pitch.

Half an hour later found the Whistler bound for Rockpoint. They had to
sail along with great care, for fear of breaking open the patched place.
Had this occurred they would all have gone to the bottom.

It was growing dusk when the harbor at Rockpoint was reached. At the dock
they saw that something unusual had happened. A crowd of men were gathered
about talking earnestly, and pointing up the lake.

"Whoever they were, they took a boat, I'm sure of that," said one man.

"That's so," said another.

"But who were they, and where did they go?" asked a third.

"Ah, that's for the police to find out."

Wondering what was up, Jack Broxton and the three boys brought the
Whistler around to the boatyard and turned her over to Dan Mason. The old
fellow, who was a first-class man at repairing boats of all kinds,
promised to have the craft in good trim by noon of the next day.

"Did you hear the news?" he asked, after their business talk was at an
end.

"What news?" asked Jerry.

"About the hotel being robbed."

"Robbed!"

"Exactly. A couple of thieves got into the safe and took a box of jewelry
and four hundred dollars in cash."

"By George! dat am a