“Wreckers?” questioned Jack.
“Yes, don’t you see. They want to get Mr. Haley in their control. Then they’ll carry him off, some of them will put out the light and lure vessels ashore by means of a false beacon. Then they’ll get the booty!”
“Say, what sort of a dime novel have you been reading lately?” asked Ed, with a laugh. “Wreckers!”
“Sure!” maintained Norton, earnestly.
“No, lad,” said Mr. Haley, quietly, “it isn’t wreckers, for the light would be well defended by my helper, even if they got me. Besides it’s dead low water at nine to-night, and they couldn’t get a boat within a mile of the Shark’s Tooth without staving a hole in her. The only approach is from the beach. I’m not afraid.”
“Besides,” added Cora, “this note was written by a woman. That’s plain.”
“A trick!” declared Norton, who seemed to insist on the melodramatic theory.
“Is this like your sister’s writing?” asked Belle.
“I really couldn’t be sure. Margaret was never much of a writer, and I can hardly see to read print, let alone writing, even with my glasses. So I couldn’t say as to that. However, I’ll be there.”
“And so will we,” added Jack, “out if sight, of course.”