“Why’s that?” asked Harvey. “He would have the coffee on by this time,” replied Tom. “That night air sent the shivers through me.” “Something else sent the shivers through me,” remarked Henry Burns. “I’ll go and start the fire.” CHAPTER VIII. LITTLE TIM A STRATEGIST Joe Hinman, with his crew of three, composed of George Baker, Allan Harding, and little Tim Reardon, did not intend to be idle during the absence of the yacht _Viking_. The yacht _Surprise_, when it should be patched up, cleaned, and once more floated, and equipped with a spare set of sails that had been left in the _Viking_ when she came into the possession of Harvey and Henry Burns, was to become the property for the summer of Joe and the rest of the crew. The morning after the _Viking_ had left the Thoroughfare, in company with the _Spray_, the boys set to work in earnest upon the hull of the _Surprise_, with the tools that had been left for them. It was hard work, for the barnacles and sea-grasses had covered the yacht everywhere, not only below, but on deck and even in the cabin. They got some pieces of joist that had been cast up ashore with a lot of other riffraff and shored the yacht up on an even keel, so they could work to better advantage, without getting in one another’s way. They worked industriously to the noon hour, only Little Tim knocking off work an hour before the others, in order to go down on the rocks and catch a mess of cunners for their dinner. He had these cleaned and cooking by the time the other three were ready, and they ate the meal heartily, in sight of their labours. Then they were at it again shortly, and worked hard till sundown. The yacht had begun to have a different appearance. The next three days they made even better progress, and had the most of the deck scraped down, so that it began to look bright again, as Harvey and his crew had always kept it. “She’ll be the fine old boat she was before,” exclaimed Joe Hinman, joyfully, as they stood that next evening eying their work approvingly. “Jack won’t know her when he gets back.” But the following morning, when Joe had arisen and dressed and taken a peep out of the old shed in which they had found shelter, he could scarce believe his eyes. His first thought was, however, when he had begun to think at all, that the yacht _Spray_ had returned, and that the Warren boys had surprised them by coming to lend a hand, and that they had begun work early. Then he saw that the yacht that lay anchored close in shore was not the _Spray_, but a strange boat; and furthermore that the four persons who were busily engaged at work upon the hull of the _Surprise_ were not the Warren boys, but larger youths, and strangers. No, they were not all strangers, either. For there was one with whom they had a slight and brief acquaintance. It was Harry Brackett. What had happened was this: