“Quick, let’s get behind this rock,” Captain Josh whispered.  “They must not know that anybody is here.”

Thus safely concealed, the two watchers waited and listened to find out what would take place.  They soon heard the boat grate upon the gravel, then a lantern flashed, and two men were seen walking up the beach.

“We might as well stay here,” one of them said.  “I’m dead beat.  Let’s build a fire and get warm.”

“Where’s the stuff?” the other asked.  “That’ll warm ye better’n anything else.  We can’t afford to light a fire.  It will be seen from the mainland, and we can’t tell who might be prowlin’ around.”

With an oath, the first speaker brought forth a bottle, and took a long deep drink, and then handed it to his companion.  After this, they both went to the boat, got several blankets, carried them a short distance from the water, and spread them out upon the sand.

“My, this is a better place than we spent last night,” one of the men remarked.

“Should say so,” replied the other.  “But didn’t we give the cops a slip, though?  I thought fer sure they had us one time, when they were pokin’ around that old ware-house.  Lucky fer us we were able to swipe that boat.  Suppose we divvy up now.  You’ve got all the swag.”

With the lantern between them, the two men bent their heads, while one of them brought forth a pocket-book, and began to count out a number of bills.  His voice was so low that the concealed watchers could not hear the amount.

“There, that’s better,” the other at length ejaculated, thrusting the money into his pocket.  “Didn’t we do that chap up fine?  He put up quite a fight, though.  But we landed him and his wad all right.  I’d like to have got a rap at them kids at the same time.  They nearly queered our job.  Now fer another drink, and then fer a good sleep.  We must be out of this before daylight.”

For a few moments there was silence, as each man took his turn at the bottle.  When they again spoke their voices were thick, which plainly told that the whiskey was having its effect.  It was impossible to understand what they were saying.  For awhile they conversed in a maudlin, complaining manner, and then knocked over their lantern, which went out.

Waiting for awhile, to be sure that the men were asleep, Captain Josh and Rod slipped quietly away, and went back to their companions.  It was with considerable difficulty that the boys were aroused and ordered not to make the least noise.  Captain Josh explained what had taken place, and the conversation of the two men.

“I believe they are the very ones who knocked that man down in the city, and stole his money,” he said in a low voice.  “Now, they must not leave this island until the police take them away, and it’s up to us to keep them here.”

“But what are we to do?” Phil Dexter enquired, his teeth chattering with fear.