A very pleasant thing happened at the Secrest camp in the shape of a surprise for Sarita. Through Mr. Tudor, Tom Carey sent her a package in which was her lost glass. Tom had recovered it that very night after it had fallen into the water, by swimming from his boat and diving where it seemed safe. The glass had lodged upon a rock not far from the surface, he discovered, and while its appearance was spoiled, the lenses were not broken.
Keeping the recovery a secret from Bill, Tom had made a trip to town and had the field glass put in shape again, with new covering. A little note explained the facts and Sarita was quite overcome, almost sorry that Tom had gone to the expense but admiring his spirit. “Oh, the poor boy!” she exclaimed.
“He paid for it with Bill’s money, though,” said the smiling Mr. Tudor, in whose presence Sarita had opened the package, “and as he is making a little more than usual, you need not worry about Tom. I will explain in a few days, Miss Sarita. It comes just in time for good service.”
Meanwhile the net was being drawn more tightly. It was desired to take the Count and Mr. Ives after their connection with the smuggling was further proved by the presence of the aliens illegitimately brought in in the Ives home or upon the Ives yacht. On land and by sea the arrival of the schooner was awaited.
CHAPTER XIX
SAILS ON THE HORIZON
On the night of the twenty-seventh, Leslie Secrest and Sarita Moore were sitting in the Sea Crest to talk. Gently the boat rocked a little in the lapping water of their little cove. Beth and Dalton were above in the Eyrie, where they had a spyglass, not one belonging to Peggy, but one which Dalton had procured. “It would be a fine thing, wouldn’t it,” he asked, “to hunt down Peggy’s step-father with a glass that he will probably pay for?”
Idly Leslie dipped her hand in the water. “Let’s go over after Peggy,” Sarita suggested. “Lots of boats are out yet, and the sunset isn’t over. See what entrancing shades there are. Beth is probably copying those over there in the east. Too bad the sun itself isn’t in that direction!”
Without a word, Leslie sprang into action. “I see a few twinkles of stars coming out, but it isn’t too late,” she said. They were soon out upon the bay, Sarita waving a farewell to Beth, who had walked out upon the rocks. Before they had gone far toward the channel, by which they would reach Peggy’s, to their surprise, the Ives yacht gave forth a deep and sonorous sound.
“Listen to Peggy’s yacht tooting!” cried Sarita. “Look out, Les. Let’s keep out of the way.”
The yacht, indeed, was moving out; but as there was but one straight course for it out of the bay, Leslie was not concerned. She drove the Sea Crest in another direction, and circled around, as they often did. To their surprise again, there was Peggy herself, waving from the deck.