The gasoline man went in search of some and when he returned the holes were temporarily stopped up and the carpenter ambled off for his dory. The others carried the tender down to the water and towed her around to the end of the float. Presently the carpenter returned in a disreputable tub of a dory and the tender was towed away. The gasoline man, who had given them the pleasure of his company continuously since the tender was examined, finally took himself off to carry gasoline to a small launch which had puffed up to the float, and the Four seated themselves in the cockpit and looked inquiringly from one to another. “It’s mighty funny,” said Dan. “The mystery deepens,” said Tom excitedly. “It certainly does,” agreed Bob, “eh, Nel?” “I think the mystery is explained,” Nelson replied quietly. “The dickens you do!” exclaimed Dan. “What’s the explanation?” “The boat hook.” “Boat hook? What boat hook?” asked Bob impatiently. “The one that made those holes.” “Well, but——!” “It’s as clear as daylight now,” said Nelson. “There’s only one person we know of who would deliberately stave holes in that boat.” “Who’s that?” asked the others in chorus. “Captain Sauder!” CHAPTER XIII—WHEREIN DAN TELLS A STORY AND TOM IS INCREDULOUS “By Jove!” murmured Bob. “Then you think—?” began Dan. “I think that the _Henry Nellis_ happened along this morning, saw Spencer Floyd out there in the tender, took him aboard and knocked holes in our boat in the hope of sinking her.” “But—!” exclaimed Bob. Then he stopped and looked thoughtful. Finally he nodded his head. “Yes, that’s just about what happened,” he concluded. “That’s right,” said Dan. “And he got Spencer again after all,” added Tom unhappily. “Well, we did the best we could for him,” said Nelson. “If we had kept him aboard the officer would have got him.” “But what I don’t understand,” said Bob, “is how Captain Sauder happened to be here. If he expected the officers to catch Spencer and return him to Sanstable why did he leave there?” “We don’t know that he did expect them to send Spencer back to Sanstable. Maybe he told them to hold him here until he came.” “That’s it!” Tom cried. “And he was on his way here when he found Spencer in the tender. So instead of coming into the harbor he just went on.” “Right-O,” said Dan. “You’re a regular Sherlock W. Holmes, Tommy.” “That blamed old pirate was smarter than we were, after all,” said Tom disgustedly. “Couldn’t we follow him and—and——?” “Take Spencer away by main force?” laughed Nelson. “I’m afraid not, Tommy. Especially as we don’t know where the schooner has gone.” “Spencer said she was going to Newfoundland, didn’t he?” asked Tom. “And you propose that we follow it up there?” “But we might catch her before she got there!”