All at once the propeller churned water, reversed.
The Master leaped to the wharf.
"Let go--and throw the hook into the boat!" he ordered.
While the three others stood wondering on the dark wharf, the launch began to draw slowly back into the stream.

Already it was riding a bit low, going down gradually by the bows.
"What now ?" questioned the major, astonished.
"She will sink a hundred or two yards from shore, in deep water," answered the Master, calmly.

"The sea-cock is wide open." "A fifteen thousand dollar launch--!" "Is none the less, a clue.

No man of this party, reaching the shore tonight, is leaving any more trace than we are.

Come, now, all this is trivial.