Two of the men climbed to the side of the Crescent and jumped to the wharf planks. Neither of them was Jurgens.
"You've got us guessin', friend," said one of the men.
"Not much I haven't," answered Matt, stoutly. "I was one of those in the air ship and I saw you pick up Jurgens."
"You've got him, all right," put in the officer. "He's a thief, and I'm here to arrest him. The Crescent is liable to get herself into hot water by this afternoon's work."
The officer was not McMillan. While he spoke, he started for the edge of the wharf with the apparent intention of getting into the sailboat and making a search.
"Hold up a minute, officer," called the man from the Crescent, pulling off his coat.
The officer halted, and turned. At that instant, Matt saw the fellow who had been making the boat's cables fast to the posts, creeping toward the officer from behind.
"Look out, there!" he yelled. "One of those men is after you from the rear! They're trying to——"
Matt's words were cut short. While he was speaking, the man from the Crescent had whirled suddenly and thrown the coat over his head.
Matt had a fleeting glimpse of the officer, crumpling to the wharf under a vicious blow from behind, and then his own head was encompassed in the smothering folds of the coat and he was thrown struggling to the planks.