But before the latter retired a new radio thrill was added to their adventures.

CHAPTER XXIV

“Something Happens”

“Something’s going to happen to-night,” Bud remarked to his three boy friends when the four found themselves alone after the departure of the prisoner under guard.  Mr. Perry had accompanied the officer and Mr. Baker to the yacht to aid them in arranging comfortable quarters for the night.

“What makes you think that?” Cub inquired, while he and Hal and Max all gathered around the speaker, whose remark afforded stimulus in harmony with the weird twilight shadows around them.

“I bet I said only what you fellows were all thinking about when I spoke,” Bud ventured by way of indirect reply.

“I felt it in my bones,” Hal declared.  “Bud didn’t have any more reason to think something is going to happen to-night than all of us have.  If something surprising doesn’t happen, I shall be—­”

“—­surprised,” finished Max, whereupon there was a chorus of laughter.

“Whatever happens, or doesn’t happen, Hal is going to be surprised,” Cub concluded facetiously.

“I think we all will be surprised,” said Bud.

“Surprise party,” shouted Hal.

“Bum surprise party without any girls,” Cub added.

“Well, anyway, I think we ought to keep watch here to guard against the kind of surprise party we wouldn’t like,” Bud declared.

“I agree with you there, old boy,” Cub put in quickly.  “Whether or not anything happens, it would be jolly to have watches and relieve one another the way they used to do out west among the Indians and outlaws and road agents.”

“I bet they do it yet in some places out there,” said Max.

“Course they do,” Cub concurred.  “You can’t tell me that the day of outlaws is gone.  Think of the automobile bandits we have now-a-days.  They’ll be raiding with airplanes next.”

“No, I don’t believe that,” Hal objected.  “They couldn’t use an airplane to any advantage.  We won’t have any more stage coach robbers or pirates on the high seas, and I don’t think there’s any chance of much of that sort of thing in the air, but there’s a good chance for some bad doings in the air in another way.”

“How’s that?” asked Max.

“We’ve all had some experience with it, and you ought to know what I mean.”

“Oh, I know,” declared Bud.  “You mean radio.”

“Sure,” replied Hal.  “There are going to be a lot of con men at work in the air or some way in connection with radio; you see if there are not.”

“They’ve been at work already,” said Cub.  “There’s been a good deal in the papers about the games they work.  But I’d like to know the truth about the fellow who tried to keep us from coming on this trip to find Mr. Baker’s son.”

“I bet he’s somethin’ more than a college sophomore,” said Bud.  “I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s connected in some way with the fellows who kidnapped our Thousand Island Crusoe.”