Henry Burns rapidly recounted what he had discovered, including the end of hawser made fast to the tree.
“But that isn’t all,” exclaimed Henry Burns, triumphantly, as he fished a hand into his right trousers pocket. “See here, what do you make of this? I saw it shining down in the water just where the stern of the yacht must have laid.”
Henry Burns drew forth a glittering object from his pocket and held it up to their gaze.
It was a gilt letter “E.”
“‘E’ for ‘Eagle,’” cried Henry Burns. “This letter got away from him. It’s clear as daylight now. Say, fellows, let’s start for Southport early in the morning. That man Chambers is in the bay. He’s up to something, and we want to get them after him quick.”
CHAPTER XIV.
THE MAN IN THE BOAT
“Fellows,” said Jack Harvey, one afternoon, a few days following the return of the Spray from its cruise, “I have decided to enter that free-for-all race over at Bellport. I’ve just heard that Ed Perkins isn’t going to race the Ella, after all; and, with her out of the race, we stand a good show. Let’s get the stuff aboard and start while there’s a wind.”
“Who’ll stay here and watch the camp?” asked Allan Harding.
“Well, I guess you’d better, now you speak of it,” responded Harvey, quickly. “There ought to be somebody here, sure. Camps have a way of disappearing around here, you know, Allan,” giving a huge wink as he spoke.
“I’d just as lieve stay, all right,” returned Allan, a little out of humour, in spite of his assurance. “But you can’t win the race without me, you know. You always said I was lucky—and there’s a good deal of luck in racing, after all.”