out we had been
spying on them they might get frightened and spirit the jewels away from
wherever they have them concealed, for I'm just as sure now that they are
all three mixed up in it as I am that--that----"

"We have no gasolene," put in Roy.

"But you have no proof and nothing to go upon," objected Jeff Stokes who
was, like most folks around Sandy Bay, familiar with the details of the
strange occurrence.

"That's just the trouble," said Peggy, "and it is just as impossible to
go ahead in the case as it is for us to fly without fuel."

"Peg!" cried Roy, suddenly, "look at that!"

"That" was a ten gallon can of gasolene standing on the beach by the side
of the motor boat. Evidently, to drag her bow up on the beach, they had
lightened the craft so as to make the task easier, for several ropes,
water jars and other bits of marine tackle lay about.

"If we could only get it," sighed Peggy.

"Yes, if," was the rejoinder from Roy, "but we can't steal it, and, as
you say, it might spoil everything if Fanning Harding thought that we had
overheard any of his talk."

"Look out!" warned Jeff Stokes in a whisper the next instant. The warning
did not come a bit too soon. The door of the hut opened and the party
which had been in conference inside emerged. They made straight for the
motor boat, which Jeff Stokes had, in the meantime, recognized as one
that was for hire at Sandy Bay.

"Come on, boys, we've got to be getting back," urged Fanning moving
quickly and preparing to shove the craft off.

"Wait till I chuck some of this truck in," grumbled Giles.

He stooped and rapidly threw in the ropes and other gear scattered about.
Then as Fanning Harding and the flabby-faced butler shoved the craft off
he made a hasty scramble for the boat's bow, leaping in as she floated
free of the beach.

"H'I soy," shouted Morgan, "you forgot the bloomin' gasolene."

"Better put back and get it," growled Giles; "if you fellows had helped
me a bit instead of givin' advice it wouldn't have bin forgotten."

"Oh, we can't bother with it now," struck in Fanning, impatiently, "we've
plenty in the tank to take us back. I'm not going to delay any longer."

He spun over the fly wheel as he spoke and the motor boat began to cut
rapidly through the water headed for Sandy Bay. As soon as it had gone a
safe distance the three stranded young adventurers joined hands and
executed a wild war dance of joy. By a means almost miraculous they had