"Then take charge of the bag. It's full of silver stuff, probably stolen from somewhere. If there's a reward offered for its recovery, the money's yours." With many expressions of thanks the two coastguards rowed of with the booty, and before their boat reached the beach of Osmington Mills, a motor-boat was observed leaving Weymouth and heading for the _Olivette_. It was the rescue party, consisting of the Scoutmaster of the 5th Weymouth Troop, the skipper and owner of the motor-boat, Dentibus Dent, and two other members of the Troop, who had not taken part in the day's operations. "Well done, Rivett," exclaimed the Scoutmaster. "We'll take the _Olivette_ in tow. Signal to the rest of the Troop to make their way back to the college. Can you two fellows manage the anchor by yourselves?" An hour later the _Olivette_ was safely moored close to the bridge in Weymouth Harbour. The Scoutmaster and the Patrol Leader proceeded at once to the Post Office, where they dispatched a telegram to the Milford Sea Scouts: "Yacht _Olivette_ here in charge of 5th Weymouth Troop. Undamaged. Come for her at any time." CHAPTER IV Repayment This was the reassuring message that Mr. Armitage read. It had a great effect upon the hitherto tired, jaded, and dispirited Sea Scouts. Smiles came back to their bronzed features, and the disappointing cruise in the _Mudlark_ in search of the _Olivette_ was almost forgotten. "The police have been active too," said Mr. Armitage. "There's been a burglary at Hordle, and a quantity of valuable silver plate stolen. The theory is that the burglars found their way to Keyhaven and embarked on the _Olivette_ with the swag. There's a reward of fifty pounds for the recovery of the missing property." "I met a couple of fellows about midnight, sir," reported Stratton. "They were carrying a heavy sack, and didn't answer when I said 'Good-night!' Of course, the idea never entered my head that they were going to steal the _Olivette_." "And they went westward," added Hepburn. "All the time we thought they were making for Cowes or Southampton." "Perhaps they started in that direction purposely to deceive anyone on the look-out on shore," suggested Mr. Armitage. "If the morning were at all misty here (it was at Southampton when I came through by train) they might easily slip over to the Isle of Wight shore and through the Needles Channel." "What puzzles me," remarked Roche, "is how they got so far with no paraffin and only a gallon or so of petrol on board." "That is an interesting point," agreed the Scoutmaster. "No doubt we'll find out more about it later on. Now the best thing you can do is to turn in and make up arrears of sleep, because to-morrow we journey to Weymouth to bring the truant home."