"There is something inside of the shell," said Tom. "A bit of paper. Perhaps it's a message?" "I'll soon see," returned his younger brother, and ran to where he could not be seen from the other yacht. He pulled from the seashell a small, square of paper, upon which had been hastily scrawled the following in lead pencil: "I will help you all I can and hope you won't prosecute me. I will see that Dora S. gets something to eat, even if I give her my share. They intend to go to Sand Haven if they can give you the slip." "Good for Mumps! He's coming to his senses," cried Sam, and showed the others the message. Dick read the words with much satisfaction. "I hope he does stand by Dora," he said. "If so, I'll shield him all I can when the crowd is brought up for trial." "If he tells the truth we may as well put into harbor and make for Sand Haven," said Martin Harris, who had now resumed the chase once more. "Yes; but he may not be telling the truth," was Sergeant Brown's comment. "The whole thing may be a trick to get us to go to Sand Haven while that crowd goes somewhere else." "I think they are tired of carrying the girl around," said Carter. "To give her up to us would have been no hardship." "That's it," put in Martin Harris. "Well, I'm willing to do whatever the crowd says." The matter was talked over at some length, and it was finally decided to cruise around after the _Flyaway_ for the best part of the day. If, when night came on, the other craft should steer in the direction of Sand Haven, they would do likewise, and land as soon as darkness came to cover up their movements. Slowly the day wore along and the two yachts kept at about the same distance. They were both running due south, and land was out of sight as before. "This is developing into a regular ocean trip and no mistake," remarked Tom, as he dropped into a seat near the cabin. "Who would have thought it when we left Cedarville in such a hurry?" "I'd like to know how things are going up there," mused Dick. "It will be too bad if Josiah Crabtree succeeds in marrying Mrs. Stanhope while we are away." "Let us hope for the best," put in Sam. "Hullo, the _Flyaway_ is moving eastward!" "What does that mean, Harris?" cried Dick. "It means that they want to make the most of this wind," responded the skipper of the yacht grimly. "I'm learning a trick or two on 'em, and I'll overreach 'em if they ain't careful." "You can't do it any too quick," answered Dick. "When next we meet there won't be quite so much talking. Instead, we'll have some acting, and pretty lively at that." Sergeant Brown was questioned concerning his weapons, and said he had two pistols and Carter had the same. One of the extra weapons was loaned to Dick and the second went to Tom. It was decided that in case of a close brush Sam and Harris were to arm themselves with anything that was handy, but otherwise they were to attend to the sailing of the _Searchlight_.