nt for at least one," and
Blake looked quizzically at his chum.

"I feel almost as if I could handle one alone, when I think of how they
got my father into trouble," replied the other. "I'm going to give a
good account of myself, if I get the chance."

"Same here. Well, there's the lighthouse just ahead, and two or three
men waiting for us. I guess they're the ones we are to go with."

This proved to be the case, and a little later the boys were repeating
to the life saver, and two secret service men, such parts of their story
as Mr. Stanton and Tom Cardiff had omitted or forgotten.

"Well, if we're all ready, we may as well start," proposed Sam Wilton,
one of the government agents. The other was Jerry Boundley, while the
name of the life saver was Frank Hale.

"Yes, it's quite a tramp," said Tom Cardiff, "and the wreckers may be
there now. Several small trading vessels are expected up the coast this
week, and some may be due to-night. Though seeing that a storm is coming
up, they may keep so far out from shore that they won't see the false
lights, in case the wreckers try to work them.

"This is about as wicked a piece of work as could well be done, trying
to wreck vessels this way. A sailor has to depend absolutely on the
lights, under certain conditions, and if they're wrong, it's like
leading a blind man into danger. So let's get after 'em and stop their
work!"

The men well knew the way nearly to the place where the boys had
discovered the wreckers at work, and so they would not have to rely on
Joe and Blake to guide them until they were almost there.

"When you see that you are close to the place," said Tom Cardiff, "you
boys go ahead, and we'll trail along after you. And keep mighty quiet,
too. If we can catch these fellows actually in the act of showing a
false light, so much better for the chances of convicting them."

They went on in the darkness. Back of them, as they mounted the hill
which ended in the high cliff, could be seen the flashing light tended
by aged Mr. Stanton.

"He's right on the job," remarked Tom Cardiff. "Even if he's an old man
he'll stay up all night to attend to that light, to see that it's
trimmed properly, that the machinery is working, that there's oil in the
reservoir, and that the lenses are clean. That light is just like a son
or daughter to him. He can't bear to have anything happen to it and the
very idea of any scoundrels trying to wreck vessels by means of a false
be