"Did they catch any tramps?" asked Laddie.
"I don't see any," replied Russ.
And as his father and the others of the party came into view, pushing their way through the bushes, it was noticed that they had not captured any of the ragged men.
"What's the matter?" asked Captain Blake. "Did they get away from you?"
"Yes," answered Captain Ben. "The rascals skipped out. They must have heard us coming and have run down to the beach on the other side of the island. There the tramps piled into a boat and went away."
"What sort of boat?" asked the seaman who had come with the jolly sailors.
"It was a motor boat," answered Daddy Bunker. "But they had a rowboat also, towing behind."
"And I think it was the same rowboat they took from me," went on Captain Ben. "And I shouldn't be a bit surprised if they had taken the motor boat, also."
"Oh, they must be terribly bad men!" exclaimed Vi, in such a funny voice that every one laughed.
"They are bad," declared Captain Ben. "That's why I want to catch them. They'll be hanging around here all winter if we don't drive them away, and they'll be taking things that don't belong to them. Captain Blake, will you help me?"