nt, but taken in connection
with some other things we have found out, I'm almost afraid it wasn't."

"Then the only thing for us to do," said John, "is to keep watch. Sam
is going to bring the Black Growler back here to-night and some one of
us will have to be on guard all the time."

"I have got that all fixed," said Fred, taking a slip of paper from his
pocket as he spoke; "I have divided the night into five watches. We'll
let Sam stay on guard until eleven o'clock. I'll take the watch from
eleven P. M. to twelve-thirty A. M. Grant can come on at twelve-thirty
and stay until two, then George will take his place and stay until
half-past three. John will be the last one and he can be the guard from
half-past three until five o 'clock. There won't be any need of any one
after that because it will be light by that time."

"That's all right," spoke up George. "The only suggestion I have to
make is that we rotate the hours, if we keep this up many nights."

"What do you mean?" inquired Fred.

"Why the one that comes on at eleven o'clock one night comes on at
twelve-thirty the next night. The one who comes on at twelve-thirty
will report at two and so on. We'll just keep pushing the schedule up
every night so we'll all be the same when we're done."

"How shall we know when our turns come?" inquired John.

"Every fellow is to call the one who is to take his place."

"But suppose the villain comes between spells?"

"We'll have to take our chances on that," said John.

The proposed scheme was finally accepted. About six o'clock Sam
returned with the Black Growler and when the plan was explained to him
he readily consented to accept the part which had been assigned to him.

That night at eleven o 'clock he called Fred who was to have the first
watch. After the first half-hour the young guard in the silence that
rested over the great river found the time dragging heavily. In order
to keep awake he walked about the dock, peering intently in every
direction. Not a sign of danger had been discovered, however, when at
half-past twelve he summoned Grant to take his place.

Grant also was not molested and when he called George at two o'clock he
said sleepily, "It all seems like fool business anyway, Pop."

"You've been asleep," retorted George.

"I haven't closed my eyes," retorted Grant sharply. "If you do as well
you'll be lucky."

A half-hour after George had entered upon his task he stopped and
peered through the w