SOME STRANGE DOINGS It was not far from midnight when the boys, sorely perplexed, once more reached Hampton.

The main street had been deserted long since, and every one in the village had returned to rest.
The boys left the captain by the water-front, while they headed up the Main Street for their respective homes.

Rob remained up, pondering over the events of the evening for some time, without arriving at any solution of them.

He was just about to extinguish his light when he was startled by a loud: "His--s--st!" The noise came from directly below his open window, which faced onto the garden.
He put out his head, and saw a dark figure standing in the yard.
"Who is it ?" he demanded.
"It's me, the captain, Rob," rejoined the well-known voice.

"I wouldn't have bothered yer but that I saw a light in yer window." "What's the trouble, captain ?" asked the boy, noting a troubled inflection in the old man's voice.
"My boat's gone!" was the startling reply.
"Gone! Are you sure ?" "No doubt about it.