He hurried right off ag'in." "Well, I don't see any way to get at the bottom of this mystery but to go and see old Hank himself," mused Rob, after a period of thought.
"What do you think, captain ?" "That's the tack ter go about on, youngster," agreed the man of Topsail Island; "but if yer are goin' down ter his place at this hour uv night, we'd better take somebody else along.

He's a bad character, and I'm only a feeble old man and yer are a lad." "I'll go round by Merritt Crawford's house," proposed Rob; "then we'll pick up Tubby Hopkins.

I guess we can handle any trouble that Hank wants to make, with that force on hand." "I guess so," agreed the old man.

"I must say I'd like ter get ter the bottom uv this here mystery.

'All fair and above board' is my motto.
I don't like these secret craft." The two young scouts were both at home, and after brief explanations the four started off at a lively pace for Hank Handcraft's hut, which was situated about two miles along the beach.