on't care what he puts up to us."

"Got any money?"

"About five dollars. Why? Want to borrow it? Just as soon you had it as
me! Can't spend it here, anyhow."

"No. Wouldn't do me any good. Got lots of my own out on the yacht."

"Wish there was a place near here where I could get a drink. Seems like
I was choking to death."

"Lots of water right by you," said Larry, with a hoarse laugh. "Help
yourself--it's free!"

"Water--pah!" snorted Tim. "That's not what I want, and you know it,
Larry."

"Say, come to think of it, there's an elegant little roadhouse a ways
back in the country here, Tim. About half an hour there and back, I
judge."

Tim grunted uneasily.

"Think it's safe?" he queried. "If Jeff got on to us--"

"Shucks! What could he do? We ain't his hired hands."

"The boss, though--suppose Jeff told him?"

"He wouldn't, and how's he goin' to find out, anyhow? Nothin's goin' to
happen to-night, you can bet on that. Come on, be a sport, Tim! We've
got as much on Jeff as he's got on us, if it comes down to that, ain't
we?"

"I dunno. I'm kind of leery, when he told us to stick, Larry."

"I thought you had more nerve, Tim. Didn't ever think you'd stand for
no game like this. But, if you're afraid--"

"Come on!" said Tim, angrily. "I'll show you if I'm afraid! I guess it's
safe enough."

"That's more like my old pal Tim. I knew you had nerve enough. Let's be
movin'. The sooner we go, the sooner we'll be back. And we'll show who's
afraid--eh, old sport?"

"That's the stuff, Larry! Guess there ain't no one big enough to tell us
what to do."

And, with linked arms, they moved off. Bessie and Dolly, hardly able to
believe in the good luck that left the way to the beach clear, held
their breath for a moment. Then Bessie, seeing that Dolly was about to
rise, whispered to her.

"Not yet, Dolly," she said, tensely. "Wait till we're sure they can't
see us. No use taking chances now."

"All right, Bessie, but what luck! I was afraid we'd have to stay here
until daylight, and I was wondering what Miss Eleanor and the girls
would think!"

"So was I. I'm afraid they're worried about us already. But it wasn't
our fault, and it really is a good thing we heard them, isn't it? The
'boss' they're talking about must be Mr. Holmes, don't you think?"

"I don't see who else it could possibly be. Come on, Bessie. I think
it's time now, they're out of sight."

Slowly and carefully, to take into account the off c