Though the fog was still thick, the light of early morn was making itself felt which was of much assistance as the captain scrambled on board the motor-boat.  It took him but a few moments to examine the engine, start it, and head the boat out into the middle of the river, with the Roaring Bess and tender trailing behind.  When everything was going to his complete satisfaction, he leaned back and fairly shook with suppressed laughter.  He knew now that he had those rascals prisoners for a few hours at least, and in that time much could be done.

The engine was of six horse-power, and the craft an ordinary rafting-boat, built especially for towing.  It accordingly made good progress up the river, and in about an hour’s time the captain was able to pull up at Hillcrest wharf.  He came here instead of going to his own shore on purpose to send a telephone message to the city.  He had thought all this out, and knew that there was no time to be lost.

Near the wharf lived the storekeeper, who had charge of the telephone, and with some difficulty he was awakened by heavy thumps upon the door of his house.  He was astonished to see Captain Josh standing outside, and it was several minutes before he realised what was wanted.

“Want to telephone, eh?” he at last queried.

“Sure.  Haven’t I been tryin’ to tell ye that fer the last five minutes?”

“Very important?”

“Should say so.  D’ye s’pose I’d be prowlin’ around at this time of the mornin’ if it wasn’t?”

It took the storekeeper some time to get Central in the city, and to become connected with the Police Station.  Then the captain stepped to the ’phone and gave his message.  “They’re on the island now,” he said in conclusion, “and I’ll keep a good watch out.  Ye’d better send some men up at once.

“They’re a stupid lot of blockheads down there,” he growled, as he hung up the receiver.  “They didn’t know where Kidd’s Island is—­jist think of that.  And they wanted to know how long it would take a motor-boat to reach the place.”

“I guess they’ll get a hustle on, though,” the storekeeper replied.  “I see there’s a reward of one hundred dollars offered for the capture of those robbers.”

“There is!” the captain exclaimed.  “How did ye hear that?”

“Why, it was in yesterday morning’s paper.  Here it is; you can read it for yourself.”

“Well, I declare!” and the captain scratched his head.  “I didn’t see that.  H’m, ’for the capture of the men who assaulted and robbed an unknown man at Sheer’s Alley,’” he read.  “Guess we’ll come in fer that money, or I’m much mistaken.”

“But you haven’t captured them yet,” the store-keeper reminded him.

“We’ve got them over there, though,” the captain retorted.

“But they’re not captured yet, remember.  You haven’t got your hands on them.  I don’t believe you can claim that money unless you give those chaps up to the police.”