First, however, Rob and his corporal made a brief expedition to see if they could make out the tracks of the marauders of the previous evening.

Whoever they had been, however--and the boys, as we know, had a shrewd guess at their identity--they had been too cunning to take the path, but had apparently, judging from the absence of all footmarks, made their way to the house through the coarse grass that grew on each side of the way.
"Well, what are we going to do about it ?" Tubby inquired, as they speeded back toward home.
"Just what I said," rejoined Rob.

"Keep quiet and not let Jack or his chums know that we suspect a thing.

Give them enough rope, and we'll get them in time.

I'm certain of it." How true his words were to prove, Rob at that time little imagined, although he felt the wisdom of the course he had advised.
As they neared the inlet, Rob, who was at the wheel and scanning the channel pretty closely, for the tide was now running out, gave a sudden shout and pointed ahead.