," he added with a laugh.

"Ah is not in trouble wid mah feet," protested Doright. "If youall wants
valuable help, jes' call on me. Mah name's Doright."

"And we'll leave Rowdy here to guard the boat so Wyckoff and his gang
don't get aboard," suggested Harry, drawing on his jacket.

"You will not," cried Arnold. "Rowdy goes with the crowd."

"We can't all get into the boat," protested Jack. "How shall we manage
that? Counting Mr. Harrison and Rowdy and Doright and Carlos and Charley
and Frank and Arnold and Tom and Harry and myself, there's ten of us.
That's four more than the boat will carry."

"I think I can fix you out in good shape," suggested Harrison, now
becoming thoroughly interested. "I saw several of those big flat
bottomed oyster boats a ways back as I came to your vessel some time
ago. I believe with a little persuasion I could get one."

"Will it take us all?" inquired Harry anxiously.

"I believe it will and more, too, if necessary."

"Then let's get it and be away. I'm getting nervous about the delay. I
can understand why Wyckoff gets excited at strangers."

Accordingly Harrison departed in quest of the large boat he had seen. In
a short time the boys heard the sound of oars and discovered him rowing
the skiff towards the Fortuna.

"I have the boat all right," he cried as he approached the vessel, "but
there is no painter. We haven't a thing to make fast with."

"We've got plenty of line," asserted Jack. "Tom, suppose you hand up a
length of that half inch stuff in the lazarette."

"Here's a long piece coiled up. Will that do?" asked Tom.

"Sure," asserted Harrison. "Anything that's long enough. If it's too
long we'll let the end drag," he added with a laugh.

"Now the shovels and we'll be all right," cried Arnold.

"The man who had charge of the boats has gone after a couple of
shovels," replied Harrison. "By the time we're aboard, he should be
here. He hasn't far to go. Are all of you ready?"

"All ready," declared Jack. "The doors are locked, the kitten out, the
clock wound and everything is snug and comfy."

"He knows how to close up shop," asserted Harry. "Go a voyage with him
and see if I'm not right! I've sailed with him."

"And the cap and fuse for the dynamite?" asked Frank.

"Here in my pocket," replied Harrison. "I got it from the watchman. He
wasn't inclined to let me have it as first, though."

"Gee," said Harry. "I'd like to be a United States Marshal."

"It is not al