would feel, if we got back his father's
money," added Bill.

"The idea looks good to me," declared Lester. "I have the _Ariel_,
and if we can get the motor boat back for Ross, there won't be a spot on
the coast within fifty miles that we can't explore. Between us, we may
run across some clue, and even if we don't, we'll get lots of fun out of
the hunt."

"Like the old darky with his lottery ticket," laughed Bill. "His boss
reproved him for spending money on a mere chance. 'Oh, I dunno, boss,'
the old fellow answered. 'T'ree dollars ain't much to spend fur a whole
year's hopin'.'"

"It's mighty good of you fellows to help me out this way," said Ross
gratefully, when the laugh had subsided. "Of course, if you do find it,
there'll be a great big reward in it for you. I know that isn't what you
are looking for, but you'll get it just the same."

"We'll leave that all to you," answered Lester. "We've got to find it
first."

"Like the old English recipe for cooking rabbit that begins: 'First
catch the hare,'" chuckled Fred.

The lads sat about the fire for another hour, too excited by all that
had happened to think of sleep. Then Lester gave the signal.

"Come, boys," he said, "we'll have plenty of time to talk this over, but
now we must get some rest. I want to get an early start in the morning,
if the storm has blown over. It's me for the downy couch now and the
early bird stunt in the morning."

The "downy couch" resolved itself into beds hollowed out in the sand
with the boys' coats rolled up for pillows. But no king in his bed of
state ever enjoyed a sounder sleep than that into which the tired boys
fell at once, while the fire died down and the surf beat on the rocks
outside.

CHAPTER VII

THE DRIFTING MOTOR BOAT

The sun had not yet risen the next morning, although the eastern sky was
bright with signs of coming dawn, when Lester passed among his sleeping
comrades with a shake on the shoulder for each.

"Come along, you sleepy heads," he cried, as they sat up and rubbed
their eyes. "We must hustle now and get off. Lively's the word."

"You old tyrant," yawned Teddy. "I feel as though I'd just got to
sleep."

"What's that I smell?" demanded Fred, as a savory whiff came to his
nostrils. "Is it coffee, or does my nose deceive me?"

"Nary a deceive," grinned Lester. "I just remembered that we had some
coffee in the locker, and I swam out and got it. And that isn't all.
Just take a sniff of thi