in had indeed made a find--one that more than confirmed the
suspicions he had formed earlier in the morning.

CHAPTER VII

A MYSTERIOUS NIGHT JOURNEY

Billy Gordon got aboard the launch and paddled it out to where Captain
Baker sat examining the rope, the end of which he had picked up from the
water.

"What have you found? More mystery?" shouted Crazy Jane.

"Yes. I'll tell you when I get ashore. What kind of an anchor have you
down here?"

"Just an anchor, that's all," answered Harriet. "Why?"

"Nothing. I was just wondering."

George climbed over into the launch, tying the rowboat behind it. Then
the two lads hauled the anchor aboard the power boat. After examining
the anchor, they paddled the launch ashore, towing the smaller boat
behind them.

"We have the old anchor. It's a good one too," announced Billy, stepping
ashore. "I take back all I said. George has some questions to ask you."

"Yes," nodded young Baker. "Was the anchor rope in good condition when
you put out the anchor, Miss Burrell?"

"So far as I know. Did it break?"

"It broke, all right. Will you show me where you made it fast last
night?"

Harriet led the way to the forward deck of the "Red Rover," pointing to
a hard wood cleat.

"I made a loop in the rope and slipped it over the cleat, drawing it
tight. I do not see how it would be possible for the loop to slip off,
nor, in fact, for the rope to break."

"Hm-m-m-m!" pondered George, feeling the cleat with critical fingers.
"Smooth. No chance for it to have worn through. There is something to be
explained in this affair, Miss Burrell."

Harriet gazed searchingly at him, but said nothing.

"I wish you would have a look at the rope. It's there on the shore.
Then, after you have examined it, tell me what you think about the
matter, but tell me just whatever you wish to. I'm not going to question
you about something you don't wish me to know."

"What do you mean, Captain?"

"Have you any enemies up here?"

"I do not know of any. I have a rival here, though."

"Eh? Who?"

"You," answered Harriet, with a smile.

"Oh!" Captain Baker flushed, then he laughed heartily. "That was last
summer. You beat us fairly. Of course we wanted to win the race home,
and so did you, but you won it fairly and squarely, and that's all there
was about it. We got you into trouble by stealing the melons and giving
them to you, but honestly, we didn't mean to have the farmer hold you
respons