"Thank you, boys; I appreciate your kind offer, and you may be able to
help me if my suspicions are correct."
"Why, what has Wyckoff been doing?" inquired Tom.
"Who said it was Wyckoff?" laughingly replied Harrison.
"Well, it seems to be mighty plain that it is he."
"Possibly it is he," admitted the Marshal. "There have been some shady
deals carried through down here lately. Some smuggling and a bad wreck
and one or two other things that the United States Government feels
should be explained. Someone must explain."
"Well, we'll help you all we can when the time comes," cried Tom
heartily. "I'm sure we'll do that."
"Here comes somebody on the wharf," declared Arnold with a hand on
Rowdy's collar. "Wonder who it is now?"
"That's the watchman," said Harrison. "He's got the shovels."
As the watchman delivered the implements to the Marshal he was requested
to keep an eye on the Fortuna. This he promised to do.
"I have an idea," explained Harrison in parting, "that the parties I am
expecting to call will be across the bay, but in case they should come,
hold them even if you have to resort to violence."
"A few more and we'd have a load," remarked Jack as the skiff with its
unusual cargo pulled away from the Fortuna. I'm glad there are enough
boys to go around so we can have one to each oar."
"We have got a crowd, sure enough," admitted Frank. "Did you bring a gun
with you in case something might turn up?"
"Indeed I have," replied Jack.
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