As they approached the pier they heard confused shouts and cries coming from the direction of the bay.
“Something’s going on!” cried Frank, breaking into a run.
“Yes. Sounds like someone in trouble,” added Andy as he followed.
Once more came the cry, and this time the brothers could make it out:
“Fire! Fire! Fire!”
They turned a corner of the street that led straight out on the long pier, and there caught sight of a cloud of smoke in the moonlight, and saw dancing flames near the surface of the water. Then Frank uttered a cry of alarm:
“It’s our boat—the Gull—she’s on fire!” he yelled.
CHAPTER XII
THE STRANGER AGAIN
Frank and Andy ran as they had never run before. Out on the long pier they speeded, their eyes turned toward their boat which they could now hardly see on account of the haze of smoke.
“How do you think it happened?” panted Andy.