But when the boys, after making sure that no sparks of fire remained, had gone back to the float, the dock master could give them no information. He had not noticed any suspicious characters about, but it was admitted that under cover of darkness, before the moon had risen, someone might have rowed silently to the side of the Gull and started the fire smoldering in the bale of hay.
"But why would they want to do it?" asked Captain Trent.
"Give it up," said Frank. "Well, we might as well get back home, Andy. Will you keep your eyes open for any more fires, Mr. Robinson?" he asked of the caretaker of the yacht station.
"Sure I will, and they'll find they're in the wrong harbor if they try any more tricks like that."
"Have you any suspicions?" asked Andy of his brother, as they were on their way home.
"I sure have," was the answer.
"What are they?"
"Well, either the men who were disappointed in not getting the whale did this, or it's up to that mysterious man who knows Paul Gale."
"I believe it's the latter. He wants to discourage us from trying to get on his track."
"Probably. Well, we won't say anything about that part of it at home, though we'll have to mention the fire. I hope we can make our trip to-morrow to Seabright."