[CHAPTER VI.]
THE CAPE TOWN MYSTERY.
On their way to the hotel, Matt and Townsend met Dick Ferral. Carl, after exchanging his bathing suit for every-day clothes, had wandered about looking for Matt, and had only just come to the air ship to relieve Ferral. In a few words Matt told his chum what had happened, and Ferral accompanied Matt and Townsend to the hotel.
"You and Matt own the Hawk together, don't you, Ferral?" Townsend had asked.
"That's the way of it," Ferral had answered.
"Then I want to talk with the two of you."
These remarks merely served to whet the curiosity of the two boys.
On reaching the hotel, the three repaired at once to the boys' room, and after Matt had got into some dry clothing and all were seated comfortably, Townsend plunged at once into the subject that lay nearest his mind.
"It is clear to me," said he, "that Jurgens mixed up in this moving-picture business just for a 'blind.' He must have heard that I was coming to Atlantic City for a look at your air ship, King, and have laid his plans for the capture of the submarine. The Grampus, as near as I can figure out, was captured by confederates of Jurgens' while I was in the air with you. Jurgens had no idea that he would be able to secure that paper from me direct, but probably hoped to find it in the Grampus, or to take it from me when I returned to the submarine after that flight in the Hawk."
"If Jurgens' men captured the Grampus while you were in the air with us, Mr. Townsend," said Matt, "the capture must have been effected in broad daylight, while the Inlet was alive with sailing craft. Would that have been possible?"