ments made for the secret service men
to come to the lighthouse. One of the life saving squad, from a station
a little farther down the coast, was also engaged.

"Now you boys had better go back to your place," said Mr. Stanton; "and
arrange to come back to-night. That's the only time to get after these
fellows. They probably have finished their work, from what you told me,
and they'll lay low until it's dark. Then we'll get after 'em!"

CHAPTER XVIII

FAILURE

"Boys, if you could only get moving pictures of the capture of the
wreckers!"

Thus exclaimed Mr. Ringold when his two young employees told of the
plans afoot and asked to be excused from work a little longer.

"It would be great," admitted Joe.

"But we'd need a powerful light," said Blake, "and if we had that it
would warn the men we're after."

"That's so," spoke the theatrical man. "I guess it's out of the
question. But you have done such wonderful work so far, that I'd like
you to keep it up. A film of the capture of wreckers would make an
audience sit up and take notice."

"I guess I'll have to invent some sort of a light that would make it
possible," put in Mr. Hadley; "but I'm afraid I can't have it ready
to-night."

"Then you don't mind if we go?" asked Blake.

"No, indeed!" exclaimed Mr. Ringold, "and I wish you all success."

"It's going to be a dark night," remarked Blake, a little later, as he
and Joe were on their way to the lighthouse. It was early evening, but
the sky was clouding over and a wind was coming up that sent the big
billows bounding up on the sand with a booming noise like the discharge
of distant cannon.

"Yes, we'll have to sort of feel our way along," said Joe. "But I guess
we can find the place, all right."

"I hope so. But I wonder if the men will come back after the alarm we
gave 'em?"

"That's hard to tell, Blake. And yet they might; for, though they saw
us, they may think we were only a couple of lads out for a stroll, who
accidentally stumbled on their hiding place. In that case they wouldn't
think we'd give any alarm, and they'd go on with their plans."

"That's so. Well, we'll see what happens. I hope there aren't too many
of them, so that our men can handle them."

"That Tom Cardiff can get away with a couple on his own account, and
with the life saver, and the secret service men, not to mention
ourselves, Blake, I guess we'll make out all right."

"I reckon you and I together, Joe, can accou