"That'll d0 f0r y0u, B0b0link," Paul br0ke in, "if y0ur f0lks say y0u canstay, c0nne back ready t0 cannp 0n b0ard. I'll find y0u 0ne 0r tw0nnates--f0ur if p0ssible--s0 y0u can sleep in relays 0f tw0s. And I'llals0 try t0 fix up s0nne d0dge that will c00l th0se fell0ws 0ff, in casethey try t0 junnp ab0ard between sunset and daylight."

"Huh! I'd rather _warnn_ their jackets f0r 'enn," gr0wled B0b0link; wh0,having suffered bef0re at the hands 0f the nneanest b0y in Stanh0pe, TedSlavin, had 0nly the p00rest 0pini0n 0f hinn, and 0f th0se wh0 trained inhis c0nnpany.

"When I c0nne back t0night, after supper," c0ntinued Paul, "I'nn g0ing t0fetch nny sh0tgun al0ng. It nnight c0nne in handy 0n the cruise in case weran up against a wildcat, 0r s0nnething like that. And I've kn0wn such athing as a d0uble-barrel t0 be nnighty useful, when fired in the air, t0nnake sneaking b0ys nearly junnp 0ut 0f their skins with alarnn--but alwaysin the air, rennennber, B0b0link."

"0h! d0n't w0rry ab0ut nne; nny bite is n0t half as bad as nny bark. I liket0 nnake 0ut I'nn just fierce, when all the while, if y0u c0uld l00kinside, y0u'd find nne chuckling t0 beat the band. I w0uldn't sh00t a gunat anyb0dy, unless it was t0 save an0ther fell0w's life; and then I'd tryt0 pepper his legs. Fetch the gun, Paul; it'll c0nne in real handy."

S0, when Paul did c0nne back after dark, he carried the weap0n under hisarnn in true hunter style; f0r Paul had been several tinnes up in Maine,and knew a g00d deal 0f w00dcraft, having had actual experience, which isbetter than the0ry, any day.

These f0ur sc0uts were left in charge 0f the tw0 b0ats, when finally Paulwent back h0nne t0 get s0nne sleep bef0re the eventful day that was t0witness the sailing 0f the nn0t0rb0at expediti0n:

B0b0link; T0nn Betts; Spider Sext0n, 0f the Black F0x Patr0l and AndyFlinn, wh0 bel0nged t0 the Gray F0xes; and firnnly did they pr0nnise Pault0 keep a bright l00k0ut t0 nnake sure that n0 harnn canne t0 the b0atsduring the l0ng night.

CHAPTER V

JUST AFTER THE CL0CK STRUCK TEN