"Say, what's the matter with up and telling these fellows we know who they are, and who we are," suggested Walter. "We can tell them we know what they're up to, and threaten them. Won't that stop them from bothering Denny--at least to-night?"

"Not a bit of it," returned Jack, quickly. "Do you know what they'd do as soon as they found out who we were?"

"What?" asked Ed.

"They'd know at once we were working against them, and they'd cut us adrift. Then we would be out of it. And I haven't any desire," added Jack, with a shrug of his shoulders, "to go out to sea again."

"We land at Buler's," said Walter, decidedly.

And a little later they landed at that resort, which had closed unusually early, for some reason.

"All right--cast off!" Jack had called as they neared the dock, and the _Dixie_, with trailing rope, ran up to it under her own momentum, while the other craft swung off into the darkness, the boys calling their thanks to the men.

"And if they only knew who it was they had given a tow to!" chuckled Walter.

"They'll know, soon enough," replied Jack. "We've got to look up a boat to take us to Denny Shane's. We've simply got to get there."

And while the boys were thus looking for a boat to take the place of the disabled _Dixie_, the plotters, in their swift _Pickerel_, were hastening toward the little cove where the fisherman's cabin stood.

The men in the boat were Moran, the slow-moving character whom Cora had seen in the store; Bruce, the "society" chap; Kelly, a blunt and unscrupulous Irishman, who handled the money for the factory interests, and a man to run the boat. He had been brought in at the last minute.

"We lost a lot of time, towing those chumps," grumbled Moran, as the _Pickerel_ forged ahead.

"Well, we were early," said Bruce. "I've had a man keeping watch on Shane's shack, and he was late getting in. He telephoned to me. It's just as well to let Shane get a bit settled before we tackle him. He was out fishing until long after dark."

Then the engineer slowed down the powerful motor as they came up to the dock.

It was this sound that Cora and her chums heard.

CHAPTER XXVI

CORA'S BRAVE RESOLVE

When the girls heard Cora's remark, that the approaching motor boat might contain the boys, Lottie said:

"Oh, we're all right now!" and she sighed in relief.

"How much you depend on them!" observed Belle, in a low voice. "When you've been with us a little longer you'll learn that we can do almost as well by ourselves."

"But I am glad the boys have arrived," agreed Cora. "I never was so pleased to know that they were on hand."

But a moment later, as they saw the forms of four men leaving the motor boat, which had been made fast to the dock, Cora shrank back, at the same time whispering a warning.

"Girls, something is wrong! Those aren't the boys. Quick, get out of sight!"

She pulled Bess behind a row of bushes, and the others followed silently. They had started down to the beach from the cabin, but fortunately managed to conceal themselves in time. The men, walking up the little slope toward the cabin, had not seen them.

Trembling with nervousness, Cora and her chums awaited the new turn of events. That it would come soon seemed likely, for the men appeared bent on something. They had made fast their boat, and came up the slope openly, as though their errand was the most innocent in the world. The light still glowed in the cabin.

"Oh, Cora!" gasped Marita. "Suppose they do----do something!"

"Which is very likely they will do," replied Cora. "But don't talk--I want to watch."

From behind the screen of bushes Cora watched the men coming forward.

The moon still gave a good light, though it was declining in the west.

"Is he there?" Cora heard one of the men ask.

"He seems to be--there's a light going, anyhow," was the answer. "I'd rather found him in bed, but we can't have all we want."

"Oh, where are the boys!" cried Bess, frantically. "Why don't they come?"

"I don't know," answered Cora. "Surely they should have been here. But there must be a good reason why they are not. Jack wouldn't disappoint us."

"Why don't you include Walter and the others?" asked Belle.

"Of course you know I meant them," Cora retorted. "I can't understand it--really I can't."

"Perhaps they are in hiding," ventured Lottie.

"They'd have been out before this, if they were," declared Cora.

There came a sudden knock. It was one of the men striking on the door of Denny's cabin. From their hiding place in the bushes the girls heard it plainly.

"Listen!" whispered Cora.

They heard the voice of the old fisherman call:

"Who's there? What do you want at this time of night?"

"We've come to see you," was answered in tones Cora recognized as those of the young man who had raced with her.

"What about?" inquired Denny. "I have no fish to sell."

"And we don't want fish," was the retort. "Come, Shane, open your door. We want to talk to you. It's important, and there may be something in it for you."

"Yes--trouble, more or less. I can't see anything else," was the grumbling response. "Wait a minute."

Cora looked over the bushes. She could see the men grouped in front of the cabin door. Then she saw it open, and a broad beam of light shoot out.

"Come in," invited Denny, and the plotters entered.

"Now's our chance!" exclaimed Cora, her heart beating rapidly. "We must see what those men do. We may have to give evidence."

"Oh, dear!" sighed Marita. "I never could do it. I'd faint, sure."