More from instinct than anything else, the radio boys sought to block the man’s path, guessing that he was probably on some evil errand and remembering the warning that Miss Berwick had given them. Cassey struck out at random, and one lucky blow caught Joe unawares and knocked him down. The other boys sprang at Cassey, but in the darkness he managed to elude them and took to his heels.
It was hopeless to attempt to find the rascal in the pitch blackness, and after running a few steps the boys realized this and returned to help their comrade.
The latter had gotten to his feet and was fuming with anger, and it was all that his friends could do to dissuade him from rushing off through the darkness in quest of his assailant.
“But he was headed for the village probably,” expostulated Joe. “We’ll probably find him there if we get there before he has time to light out.”
“Maybe. But it’s more important just now to get to the wireless station and find out if there’s any news of the Horolusa,” said Bob. “If we find out that she’s all right, we can get after Cassey later.”
“That’s good dope,” said Jimmy. “The sight of that rascal has made me feel more scared than ever for the folks. He’s a hoodoo, a raven, a sign of bad luck. I’m not superstitious, but meeting him has given me the creeps.”
The boys resumed their interrupted journey, and before long could see the lights of the radio station shining through the rain.
“Now, if we can only find out that the steamer is safe!” sighed Bob.
“If we only do!” came from Joe. “It would be terrible if anything went wrong in this awful storm.”
The boys increased their pace, and were soon mounting the steps of the porch. To their surprise, the door was wide open, and almost by instinct they felt that something was wrong. Their suspicions were confirmed the next moment, for as they entered the house the first object they saw was their friend, Brandon Harvey, stretched unconscious on the floor with blood trickling from a wound on his head. The little safe of which he had spoken the last time the boys were there stood wide open, and the cash drawer lay empty on the floor.