a small hole with the ragged edge of the
metal glinting with a freshness that the rest of the metal did not
have. He continued:

"It's not a sure thing I could have caught him, if I had gas; that
was a pretty fast boat, faster than this I think."

"Will you recognize the boat if you see it again?" asked Jimmy.

Matthews shook his head slowly.

"I'm not sure. There's any number of sea sleds on this lake just
like it. That's not the important thing though. I should have
taken the glasses along. When my gas gave out I could have had a
good look at their motor. There may be a lot of boats like that
but not many motors that can develop that speed. It will be a
simple thing to attach that motor to another boat."

He went on with grim irony: "That's simple enough. If we had ten
thousand men we could comb the thirty-odd miles of lake and
examine every motor on it, thus narrowing the search down to
motors capable of a speed--why are they watching, why--"

"Yes," went on McCall, "why this, and why do they want Professor
Brierly to go back to New York? Why in the name of common sense
New York? Is it--is it--" his features lit up. "Is it because
someone is interested in seeing that Professor Brierly does not
interfere in the affairs of Camp Higginbotham in the next few
days?"

There was no answer. Professor Brierly's bushy eyebrows were
bristling. He was staring at the faces of the group unseeingly.

Jimmy burst out:

"This is more than a mere kidnapping. With the eyes of two
countries focused on this section the kidnapping can be predicated
on one of two hypotheses. The kidnappers are crazy or they want
Professor Brierly in New York. Mac's guess seems a good one. They
want Professor Brierly away from here; that's a cinch. They--"

"Jimmy," interrupted Matthews, "are you influenced in what you say
by your hope that Professor Brierly will help solve the riddle of
the Tontine groups and help your story?"

He obviously was still in the grim mood that was so apparent on
his return from the futile chase. Jimmy did not answer the charge.
He was looking at Matthews gravely. Jack reddened under the stare.

"I'm sorry, Jim. That was rotten! But thinking of Tommy--" Jimmy
nodded:

"All right, old man, forget it, you didn't say anything. But I am
wondering about this request to go to New York. I can't help
thinking there is something in this request that doesn't appear on
the face of it." He turned to Professor Brierly: "Wha