In the strange craft the boy scouts had little difficulty in recognizing Sam Redding’s hydroplane.

“So he’s got her back,” exclaimed Merritt, recovering from his first astonishment.

“Yes, and she seems little the worse for her experience,” remarked Tubby.  “It doesn’t appear, though, that they are going to profit by their lesson of the other day, for there they go out to sea again.”

“Probably consulted the glass this time,” remarked Rob.  “It read ‘set fair’ when we started out.”

“Well, that’s the only kind of weather for them,” commented Merritt; “though as both Jack and Bill can swim, I wouldn’t mind seeing them get a good ducking.”

“I suppose the coincidence has struck you fellows, too?” remarked Rob suddenly, as he skillfully twisted and turned the dancing Flying Fish through the devious ways of the channel at low water.

“What on earth are you talking about?” demanded Merritt.

“Why, that it seems rather queer that Sam, who was round town desperately trying to raise money with which to get his boat out of pawn suddenly manages to redeem her, and that on the very day after the robbery of Captain Hudgins hut.”

“By hookey, that’s right!” shouted Tubby.  “I’ll bet your guess was correct, Rob—­that gang of Jack’s robbed the old captain.”

“And stole our uniforms,” put in Merritt.

“Yes; but how are we going to prove it?” was Rob’s “cold water” comment which silenced further speculation for the time being.  Each boy, however, determined then and there to do his share in running down the persons responsible for the vandalism.

By the time they got back to Hampton the news had spread among the entire Eagle Patrol, and an indignation meeting was called in the devastated armory.  Mr. Blake entered in the midst of it, and offered, in conjunction with the rest of the local council, to furnish new uniforms.  On the matter being put to a vote, however, the lads all agreed that it would be better not to accept such an offer till they had made a determined effort to run down the plunderers.

“Very well,” said Mr. Blake; “your spirit does you great credit, and if you need any help, don’t fail to call upon me at any time.”

“Three cheers for Mr. Blake and the members of the council!” shouted Merritt, jumping on a chair.

They were given with such roof-raising effect, that people outside in the street, many of whom knew of the robbery, began to think that the uniforms must have been recovered.

As the lads surged out of the armory, all talking at once about the robbery and its likely results, whom should they encounter on the street but Jack Curtiss and his two chums, evidently, from the fact that they carried waterproof garments over their arms, just back from their trip in Sam’s newly-recovered hydroplane.

It might have been fancy, but as the eyes of the Boy Scouts met those of the three lads who would have so much liked to belong to the organization, Rob thought that a look of embarrassment spread over Jack Curtiss’ heavy features, and that even Bill Bender’s brazen face took on a shade of pallor.  If this were so, however, it could have been only momentary, for the next minute Jack, with what seemed very much overdone cordiality, came forward with: