"I put them in one of the cylinders of the engine," cried the lad. "One of the cylinders was out of commission. I shut off the water supply, took off the head and stuffed the papers between the outer wall and the inner one. They ought to be there now."
"No wonder we couldn't find them," exclaimed Frank.
"And where is your father now?" asked Mr. Racer.
"Still in the sanitarium I hope," answered Paul. "That is the reason none of our advertisements about me were answered. My father did not see them, and I have no other relatives. His business was closed up, and his friends did not know where he or I had gone. But it's all right now. Oh, how I want to see my father!"
"We'll send him word at once, if you have his address," said Mr. Racer.
"And what shall we do with this man?" inquired Mr. Lacey.
"Jail is the place for him," declared Mr. Racer. "He is a desperate criminal to have followed Paul about as he did. Now, boys, get aboard, and we'll take Mr. James Shallock in with us also. Cast off the raft, and we'll go home."
"Wait until I get Paul's papers!" cried Frank.
It did not take long to remove one of the engine cylinder heads, and there, between the two walls, were the important papers, safe. They involved the possession of much property that Shallock hoped to get under his control.
They set out for the mainland with their sullen prisoner. He soon realized that his games were up, and when turned over to the authorities he made a partial confession. He admitted that he had followed Paul, soon after the lad left the hotel, hoping to get the papers. When the lad left in his motor boat the scoundrel lost track of him for a while. Then he learned of Paul's efforts to escape and set out after him. From the Racer boys the man learned of Paul's rescue, but naturally he would not tell what he wanted of him, and hurried away. He hung about Harbor View, hoping for a chance to get hold of the helpless lad, or steal the papers. That was the cause of his midnight visit to the Racer home.