His breath recovered, Ross came around to offer Dan his hand.

"You swam a dandy race and deserved to win," he said warmly. "From now on, I'm going in for heavy practice!"

"Next year we'll have a real race," Dan grinned. "You gave me stiff compet.i.tion this season."

Following his teammates to the dressing room, the boy showered and scrambled into street clothes. Victory had brought a warm inner glow. He felt at peace with the world.

The feeling, however, was short lived. In leaving the dressing room, he chanced to hear Mr. Holloway and the Den 1 coach discussing prospects of obtaining Skeleton Island as a Scout camp.

"The deal's definitely washed up," Midge's father told the coach. "Too bad, because the site is the best one around Webster City."

Since the weekend when the Cubs had camped on the island, Dan had not seen Mr. Manheim or the caretaker, Jabowski. He and Brad had reported to Mr. Hatfield their discovery of the old tunnel leading under the hotel.

However, the Cub leader had not considered it advisable to take the matter up.

"It's useless to speculate on what may have happened there," he told the disappointed boys. "To impress Mr. Manheim or the police, we need evidence. Without it, we'll be wise to let matters rest as they are."

Dan also had been discouraged to learn that Frisk f.a.gan, the motorboat operator, had been released from jail on bond. Realization that the man was at liberty gave the boy a few uneasy moments. Though he expected no trouble, he could not forget that he had been warned not to identify the man.

As Dan removed his coat from the locker, Mack came hurrying up.

"Say, you're wanted outside," he informed. "A man wants to talk to you."

"Who is he, Mack?"

"Didn't say," the other flung over his shoulder as he went on toward the dressing room. "He's waiting out in front of the building."

Dan put on his coat and started for the street. By this time the main part of the "Y" building was nearly deserted of visitors.

As he stepped out onto a stone porch giving exit to the street, a little man in an overcoat pulled high around his neck emerged from the shadows.

Dan recoiled.

The man was Paper Bag Eddie.

"h.e.l.lo, Dan," the other said in his purring voice. "Want to take a little ride with me?"

Dan started to retreat into the building, but Eddie blocked the doorway.

The dark street was deserted except for a taxi cab.

"Don't let out a peep or make a false move," the man said, tapping the little paper bag he carried. "You're coming with me."

Taking a firm grasp upon Dan's arm, he shoved him toward the waiting taxi cab.

The boy braced his feet and started to resist. But as he opened his mouth to let out a yell for help, Eddie jammed the paper bag into his ribs. He felt the pressure of a revolver press against his flesh.

"Don't yip, or I'll let you have it," the little man said in his pleasant voice. "Just get in that taxi."

Dan obeyed. As he slumped in the rear seat, he took a quick glance at the driver. Though the face was unfamiliar, he thought the man resembled one of the persons he had seen on the night Mr. Holloway's motorboat had been struck. It was an ugly face, cold and unfriendly. He realized with a sinking heart that any appeal to the driver for help would be a waste of breath.

Eddie sat close beside Dan, his stubby legs stretched out in front of him.

"We have a little score to settle, Dan," the man said, eyeing the boy narrowly. "Remember?"

The words sent an icy chill chasing down Dan's spine. Eddie hadn't forgotten his identification of Frisk f.a.gan. And this was the payoff!

"Where are you taking me?" he demanded.

Eddie merely smiled and settled back in the cab. The taxi driver, without an order, shifted gears and they sped away.

Along the brightly lighted street, Dan saw many persons he knew walking home from the swimming meet. But he was helpless to signal them or to let anyone know of his plight.

At the next corner, the taxi turned, seeking a narrow, dark street.

Gradually it came to Dan that he was being driven to the waterfront. His uneasiness increased.

The cab presently pulled up not far from a familiar group of warehouses.

Eddie made no move to leave the taxi. Instead, he seemed to be waiting for someone.

Within five minutes, a tapping sound was heard along the dark street.

Craning his neck, Dan saw the blindman and his dog approaching the cab.

The boy's heart leaped with hope. If only he could get word to the man, or in some manner make known his predicament!

But a moment later Dan's hopes nose-dived. The blindman came directly to the cab. He greeted Eddie as an old friend.

"Sorry to be late," he apologized. "You got the kid, I see."

"Sure," Eddie replied, lowering the cab window. "Everything set?"

"The shipment's in, settin' out on Dock 23 covered with canvas. All we gotta do is distract the watchman while the sawing goes on."

As he spoke, the blindman removed his dark gla.s.ses. His eyes as they coldly appraised Dan looked perfectly normal. With a shock the boy realized that Joe Matt never had been blind.

"He's been a spotter for the gang of river pirates!" Dan thought. "All the time he's kept watch of shipments to learn when valuable ones go through! Hank foolishly told him everything!"

Belatedly, it occurred to him that this was the night of the 24th. The blindman had learned long ago that a valuable shipment of furs or other merchandise was to be sent through on this day.

As Dan figured it out, the boy Jacques undoubtedly had been a.s.signed to relay the information to a member of the gang. The coded message must have referred to the shipment and was in effect "Coming through on the 24th!" But something had gone awry. Either Jacques had rebelled or had met with an accident as he crossed the river.

"That's why the boy wouldn't talk," he thought. "He didn't dare. He was afraid of what the gang would do to him."

Dan's meditation was cut short by a poke in the ribs from Paper Bag Eddie.

"Get out!" the man ordered. "If you do exactly as you're told, you won't be hurt. But don't try any monkey business."

Dan was forced to walk along the dock ahead of the blindman and his dog.

Eddie loitered far behind.

"Now get this," Joe Matt said. "One false move and Rudy will tear you to shreds. You'll do exactly as I say. These are your orders: You're to talk to Hank and keep him occupied. I don't care what you say, just so you hold his attention. If you fail-"

"So I'm to be a decoy?"