m you----"

"I'm glad I know!" burst out Joe. "There isn't going to be any disgrace.
My father is innocent, I'm sure of it; and I believe we can prove it,
once we have these wreckers arrested."

"That's the way to talk!" cried the old man. "Boys, I'll help you. We'll
get right after these miscreants. Maybe I was wrong, after all, in
thinking Nate Duncan guilty. He was a good man, and it made me feel bad
even to suspect him."

"What do you think is the best thing to do?" asked Blake. "We ought to
act quickly, or they may leave this part of the country, to try their
scheme farther down the coast. It might succeed, then."

"That's right," declared Mr. Stanton. "We must act at once. My assistant
is here now, and I'll have him go with you. I'm a little too old for
such work. Besides, one of us will have to stay here to guard the light.
No telling but what the scoundrels might try to wreck it. But if they
come, I'll be ready for 'em!" he cried, as he took down an old-fashioned
musket from the wall. "I'll stand by to repel boarders!" he exclaimed,
holding the weapon above his head, and then sighting it at an imaginary
enemy.

"I'll call my assistant," he went on. "Tom Cardiff is as sturdy a lad as
you'd wish to see. He can get one of the men from the life saving
station, and with a couple of the government secret service officers you
ought to be able to get those wreckers, don't you think?"

"Sure!" cried Joe.

"Did you mean for us to help catch 'em?" asked Blake.

"I certainly did," went on the keeper. "That is, unless you're----"

"Afraid? Not a bit of it!" cried Blake, vigorously.

"Besides, you know just where they were located," continued Mr. Stanton.

"Though they may have taken the alarm and left," suggested Joe.

"Then we'll trace 'em!" cried his chum. "Where is your helper, Mr.
Stanton?"

"I'll call him. I say Tom--Tom Cardiff!" he shouted up the lantern
tower. "I'll finish cleaning the lens. I've got other work for you. Come
down!"

"Coming!" was the answer, and a little later a well built young fellow,
muscular and of fine appearance, greeted the boys. The introduction was
soon made, and the story of the lads told.

"Wreckers; eh?" exclaimed Tom Cardiff. "I'd just like to get hold of
some of the wretches," and he stretched out his vigorous arms.

"Well, get after 'em, then!" exclaimed the old man. "You don't want to
lose any time. Telephone for the officers."

The wire was soon busy, and arrange