brakeman and in a short time a steady "put-put!" told the watchers that
a motor boat was approaching.

"Now for your dinghy, Hank," urged Jack, "hurry up. You move like a
man a hundred and ninety years old, with the rheumatism."

"Well, come on, then," retorted Hank, "here's the boat," pointing to a
cobbled dinghy lying hauled up above the water line, "give me a hand
and we'll shove off."

The united strength of the three soon had the boat in the water and
with Hank at the oars they moved steadily toward the chugging motor
boat.

"Well, Sam, you're on the job, I see," remarked Jack as the two craft
ranged alongside and Sam cut off the engine.

"Oh, I'm on the job all right," rejoined Sam, feeling much braver now
that the other two had arrived, "have you got them all right?"

"Right here in this bag, and some more in this, my bucko," chuckled
Jack as he handed the two sacks over to Sam.

"Ha! ha! ha!" chortled Bill under his breath as he climbed out of the
cobble into the motor boat, "won't there be a fine row in the morning."

"Well, come on; start up, Sam. We've no time to lose," ordered Jack as
he and Bill got aboard, "good night there, Hank."

"Good night," rejoined Hank quietly enough, as the motor boat moved
swiftly off over the moonlit sea. He added to himself, "It won't be a
very 'good night' for you, my lad, if you don't pay me as handsomely as
you promised."

And chuckling to himself till his shoulders shook, Hank resumed his
oars and rowed back to the miserable shanty he called home.

CHAPTER VIII

THE STOLEN UNIFORMS

Rob and his old friend lost no time the next morning in getting down to
the water-front to make inquiries about the captain's missing boat. To
their astonishment, however, almost the first craft that caught their
eyes as they arrived at the L wharf to begin their search was the old
sailor's motor dory, to all appearances in exactly the same position
she had occupied the preceding night when the captain moored her.

"Have I clapped deadlights on my optics, or am I gone plumb locoed?"
bellowed the amazed captain, as he saw the little craft dancing lightly
on the sunny waters.

"You are certainly not mistaken in supposing that is your boat. I'd
know her among a thousand," Rob assured him. "Are you quite certain
that she was not here last night, captain?"

"Just as sure as I am that yer and me is standin' here," rejoined the
bewildered captain. "I've sailed the s