“The storm grew worse. I did not know what to do. Then came an explosion and I found myself in the water. I remember some one calling to me, and taking me on board a sailing vessel, and then it all became a blank. My mind left me.”
“That was when we rescued you,” spoke Frank, as Paul Bartlett finished. “But what did you do with the important papers?”
“Wait. Let me think,” pleaded the lad. “I put them—”
They all leaned eagerly forward to hear his answer. The mysterious man struggled vainly at his bonds.
“I put them in one of the cylinders of the engine,” cried the lad. “One of the cylinders went out of commission. I shut off the water supply, took off the head and stuffed the papers between the outer wall and the inner one. They ought to be there now.”
“No wonder we couldn’t find them,” exclaimed Frank.
“And where is your father now?” asked Mr. Racer.
“Still in the sanitarium I hope,” answered Paul. “That is the reason none of our advertisements about me were answered. My father did not see them, and I have no other relatives. His business was closed up, and his friends did not know where he or I had gone. But it’s all right now. Oh, how I want to see my father!”
“We’ll send him word at once, if you have his address,” said Mr. Racer.
“And what shall we do with this man?” inquired Mr. Lacey.