peed on the return?" called Joe, from the doorway of the motor
room.

"Yes," nodded Captain Tom. "But look out for vibration. Our sick man
has had his skull cracked."

By the time the yacht had gone scooting for more than a mile over the
waves, Captain Halstead, left hand on the wheel, turned to Hilton.

"Did you hear how our sick man came to be hurt, sir?"

"I didn't hear of it until a couple of hours after it happened,"
replied Hilton. "I understand that Mr. Clodis fell down the stairs
leading to the main saloon, and was picked up unconscious. That was
about all the word that was given out on board."

Captain Tom nodded, then gave his whole attention to making Lonely
Island as speedily as possible. There was no land in sight, and the
trip back was a long one. Yet the young skipper had his bearings
perfectly.

They were still some eight miles off Lonely Island when Hilton roused
himself at sight of a low-hulled, black schooner scudding north under
a big spread of canvas.

"You're going to pass close to that boat, aren't you, Captain?" asked
the bridge deck passenger.

"Yes, sir; pretty close."

"As I understand it, you're going to land at an island some miles off
the coast, whereas I wish to reach the mainland at the earliest
possible moment, and catch a railway train. So, Captain, if you'll
signal that schooner and put me aboard, I shall feel under sufficient
obligation to hand you another ten-dollar bill."

That looked so much like earning money rapidly that Halstead called
Joe up from the motor room to set the signal. The schooner lay to
until overtaken. Hilton discovered that the schooner was bound for
Beaufort, and the bargain was quickly completed. A small boat put off
from the sailing vessel and the bridge deck passenger, his noticeable
bag included, was transferred.

The "Restless" was nearer Lonely Island, and the schooner was hull
down, when Captain Tom suddenly started as Joe Dawson stepped upon
deck.

"Blazes, Joe!" exclaimed the young skipper. "I'm afraid we've done
it!"

"I'm afraid so, too," came quietly from the young engineer.

"That fellow Hilton, so anxious to get ashore, may be the very chap
who struck down Mr. Clodis!"

"The thought had just come to me," admitted Joe.

"Yes! You know, Mr. Seaton hinted that the 'accident' might have been
an attempt to kill."

Captain and engineer of the "Restless" stared disconcertedly at each
other.

"Now, why did I have to go and make su