“But that isn’t all,” exclaimed Henry Burns, triumphantly, as he fished a hand into his right trousers pocket. “See here, what do you make of this? I saw it shining down in the water just where the stern of the yacht must have laid.” Henry Burns drew forth a glittering object from his pocket and held it up to their gaze. It was a gilt letter “E.” “‘E’ for ‘_Eagle_,’” cried Henry Burns. “This letter got away from him. It’s clear as daylight now. Say, fellows, let’s start for Southport early in the morning. That man Chambers is in the bay. He’s up to something, and we want to get them after him quick.” CHAPTER XIV. THE MAN IN THE BOAT “Fellows,” said Jack Harvey, one afternoon, a few days following the return of the _Spray_ from its cruise, “I have decided to enter that free-for-all race over at Bellport. I’ve just heard that Ed Perkins isn’t going to race the _Ella_, after all; and, with her out of the race, we stand a good show. Let’s get the stuff aboard and start while there’s a wind.” “Who’ll stay here and watch the camp?” asked Allan Harding. “Well, I guess you’d better, now you speak of it,” responded Harvey, quickly. “There ought to be somebody here, sure. Camps have a way of disappearing around here, you know, Allan,” giving a huge wink as he spoke. “I’d just as lieve stay, all right,” returned Allan, a little out of humour, in spite of his assurance. “But you can’t win the race without me, you know. You always said I was lucky—and there’s a good deal of luck in racing, after all.” “Well, we’ll try to win without luck, that’s all,” said Harvey. “And, mind, we depend on you to have the camp still standing here when we get back. I shouldn’t think it would be nice to get back and find one’s camp gone, eh, Allan?” “No,” replied the other, shortly. The crew lost no time in stowing their blankets and camp-kit aboard the _Surprise_, and, leaving Allan Harding sullenly on guard, they sailed away for Bellport. “Looks as though something was missing thereabouts,” chuckled Harvey, as they sailed past the spot where Tom’s and Bob’s camp had stood. “Doesn’t it strike you there used to be something there that’s gone now?” This piece of humour on Harvey’s part seemed to tickle the crew vastly, for they shouted with derision as they sailed by. “Guess they must have got tired of camping there,” roared Harvey, at which the others roared the louder. Bellport, whither they were bound, lay about four miles down the coast of the mainland below Mayville. It was not so large a place as Southport, but was a favourite resort for yachtsmen, as the bay there was free of islands, and for ten or more miles there was a good sailing course. The yacht _Surprise_ did not reach Bellport till late that night, but Harvey and his crew were up bright and early the next morning, as the race was to come off at ten o’clock, and they wished to have everything ready for it.