"Thank you for the offer," Jack replied as he prepared to mount the
ladder leading to the deck above him. "You are very kind."

He was about to add that they would remain aboard the vessel, but caught
himself and for no accountable reason answered:

"We were figuring on going uptown after supper. If you happen to be in
this part of the yard you might keep an eye on the little wagon.

"And, by the way," he added, "here's a piece of change for your trouble.
It's not much, but if you try hard you can spend it. Most business
places are glad to get them."

"Thank you, boss, thank you," eagerly cried the watchman.

Jack knew by his manner that the piece of money was the object of his
offer, but tried to avoid letting the man see that.

Rowdy was unable to negotiate the ladder and consequently had to be
carried up by Tom. At last they were all aboard, supper was under way
and the Fortuna was bright with lights from her storage batteries. Jack
decided it was best not to start the engines because of the danger of
displacing the shoring.

Supper was eaten and still the fishermen had not returned.

"Let's turn off the lights and maybe that watchman will think we have
gone uptown if we are quiet," suggested Jack.

"All right," agreed Tom. "Can we keep Rowdy quiet, too?

"Sure you'll be quiet, won't you, old chap?"

Rowdy's answer was an attempt to "kiss" his friend.

For some time the boys sat in silence, hoping every moment for the
return of their friends. It was growing dusk and Jack was becoming
anxious. Just as he was about to speak, Rowdy seemed to stiffen as if
pointing something. The hair on his shoulders rose on end, while a
scarcely audible growl escaped from his throat.

Although the boys sat in the shadow of the pilot house and were
indistinguishable to anyone below in the shipyard, they could still see
each other. Jack touched Frank and Tom lightly and then using the sign
language employed by mutes he said to them:

"Rowdy sees or smells something he doesn't like."

"I see it, too," signaled Tom. "It's that watchman friend of yours. He's
coming back to see if we left some of our supper."

"He was a hungry looking chap," wigwagged Frank. "I'd like to feed him
up a little and put some fat on his ribs once."

"It would take a mint of money to buy the grub," Tom's fingers spelled
out. "He's what the livery stable owner would call a hard keeper. He
needs a dose of something. I don't like him."

"Rowd