."

"We'll take Tom Barnum, too," said Jack. "He can be relied on in any
crisis. Wait here until I stir him up and tell the boys."

Leaving the other, Jack went outside and apprised his chums of the new
plan. It was just the thing they needed to rouse them from the
despondency into which contemplation of the damage to their airplane
had thrown them. Then he went to Tom Barnum's quarters. Tom had not
yet returned to sleep. He was eager to join in the adventure. Bringing
three or four pistols, Jack and Tom quickly rejoined the party.

"What is your idea, Captain Folsom?" Jack inquired, when all were
ready to depart and everything had been made tight about the station.

"First of all, how far is it to Starfish Cove?"

"Between two and three miles," answered Bob. "But the tide is out, and
we shall have good going on the hard sand, and ought to make it under
forced draught in a half hour or a little more."

"Is there any other place where small boats might land conveniently,
any other place reasonably near?"

The boys and Tom Barnum shook their heads.

"That's far and away the best place," said Jack.

"Well, then, I propose that we make our way close to the Cove, and
then take to the cover of the trees, which you have given me to
understand, come down there close to the water."

"They fringe the beach," Bob explained.

"Good. With reasonable care we ought to be able to make our way
undiscovered close enough to see what is going on, supposing a landing
such as I have in mind is taking place."

"There's armed guards on the Brownell place nowadays," interjected Tom
Barnum, to whom Jack had given a brief explanation of things. "Maybe,
them fellers have sentries posted."

"Well, we'll have to exercise caution when we get close to the Cove,"
said Captain Folsom. "And now, if we are all ready, let us start.
Every second's delay is so much time lost. They'll be working fast. If
we are to gain any information, we must hasten about it."

"Righto," said Bob, striding off. "And just let me get my hands on the
sneak that tried to burn the airplane," he added, vindictively. "I'll
give that gentleman a remembrance or two of the occasion."

The others fell in, and with long strides started making their way
along the sand left hard-packed by the receding tide, under the
moonlight.

Bob set a terrific pace but, fortunately, all members of the party
were young men and accustomed to physical exercise, and none found it
any h