prepared for the cruise to Seabright.

"Think we'll get any clue?" asked Andy, as he cast off, while Frank ran
up the sail.

"Well, it won't be from want of trying. We'll keep a good lookout on
the way up, and then we'll go ashore there and make some inquiries.
I'm going to get at the bottom of this mystery if it's at all
possible," and Frank looked very determined as he fastened the throat
and peak halyards on the cleats and looked to see if the sheet was
running free in the blocks.

On the trip up the coast the boys kept a sharp watch for anything
resembling a wrecked motor boat, or for one in good condition
resembling the towing craft of which Jack Kett had spoken. They saw
nothing, however, even though they sailed out to sea several miles.

"Let's head for Seabright now," proposed Andy, as they swung about on a
long tack. "Maybe he's there waiting for us."

"He'll run if he sees us," jokingly replied Frank.

In about an hour the boys had made their craft fast to the Seabright
pier, and going to the office of the dock master they inquired for a
motor boat that answered the description of the one for which they were
looking.

"We have so many craft here in the summertime," said the dock official,
"that it's a pretty hard matter to remember 'em all. I don't recall
the boat you speak of, and I'm sure no motor craft that was partly
burned has put in here. But speaking of a tall dark man, I recollect
now that Jim Hedson, who runs the sailboat _Mary Ann_, was telling me
he had a fellow come to him and want to hire her. Maybe that's the
fellow you're looking for."

"Perhaps!" agreed Andy eagerly. "Where is Jim Hedson?"

"Over there," and the dock master pointed to where a group of sailors
and fishermen were seated on an overturned boat on the beach.

"We'll talk to him," proposed the elder Racer lad, and, followed by his
brother, he approached the little gathering. Before they reached the
men Andy uttered a sudden exclamation.

"Look!" he cried to his brother, pointing up the street which led down
to the water front. "That man--the mysterious stranger--here he comes!"

"Sure enough!" agreed Frank, as he saw a tall dark man hurrying toward
the pier. "That's him all right."

The boys stood waiting, hoping against hope that they could now solve
the mystery. The man hastened forward. All at once he caught sight of
the lads.

Like a flash he wheeled about and fairly ran back up the street, while
Fra