At this point Chester Haynes asked his first question:
“How do you know we did?”
Mr. Stockham Calvert indulged in a low laugh.
“Surely I did not follow you thither without learning all you did. Your conversation on the steamer gave me the information I wished. I did not expect you to succeed as well as you did.”
“Why did you avoid us? Why didn’t you take us into your confidence from the first?” asked Chester.
“I had several reasons, but I see now it would have been as well had I done so. However, let that go. My errand here to-night is to ask you whether you will not assist me in running down these criminals.”
The abrupt proposition caused a start on the part of the youths, who looked wonderingly into each other’s face. It was Alvin who replied:
“Assist you! What help can we give?”
“You have the fleetest motor boat on the Maine coast. It must be capable of twenty miles an hour.”
“It is guaranteed to make twenty-four.”