As they hastened along, Rob explained to the others in more detail the nature of their mission, but though they were as much mystified by the sudden summons of Captain Hudgins as Rob and the captain himself, they could hit upon no plausible explanation for it.
It was a little over half an hour before they reached the dilapidated hut where old Handcraft, a beach-comber, made his dwelling place.

A short distance off the shore they could see by the moon, which had now risen, that his crazy old motor boat lay at anchor.

This was a sign that Hank was at home.

Lest it be wondered that such a character could have owned a motor boat, it may be explained here that the engine of Hank's old oyster skiff had been given him by a summer resident who despaired of making it work.

Hank, however, who was quite handy with tools, had fixed it up and managed to make it drive his patched old craft at quite a fair speed--sometimes.