"Ah, that's for the police to find out."

Wondering what was up, Jack Broxton and the three boys brought the Whistler around to the boatyard and turned her over to Dan Mason. The old fellow, who was a first-cla.s.s man at repairing boats of all kinds, promised to have the craft in good trim by noon of the next day.

"Did you hear the news?" he asked, after their business talk was at an end.

"What news?" asked Jerry.

"About the hotel being robbed."

"Robbed!"

"Exactly. A couple of thieves got into the safe and took a box of jewelry and four hundred dollars in cash."

"By George! dat am a loss!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Blumpo.

"The jewelry is said to be worth nearly one thousand dollars."

"Have they any idea who the thieves were?"

"No, they wore handkerchiefs over their faces, with holes cut in 'em for to see. Some thinks as how they got away in one o' the boats lying up sh.o.r.e."

"How did they do the job?" questioned Jerry, with much interest.

"I didn't hear any of the particklers, boys."

"Come on up to the hotel and find out," said Harry. "We haven't got to hurry home this evening."

Side by side Harry and the young oarsman walked to the Rockpoint Hotel, a large place, now filled to overflowing with Summer boarders.

They found every one around the resort talking over the case. Presently Harry heard somebody say that the stolen money and box of jewels had been placed by the robbers into a large red valise belonging to the proprietor of the hotel. At once he called Jerry aside.

"I know who committed this robbery," he said.

"Who?"

"Si Peters and Wash Crosby."

CHAPTER XIX.

THE RED VALISE.

Of course Jerry was astonished at his chum's declaration.

"How do you know this?"

"They had that red valise. I saw it."

"Let us make a few more inquiries before we say anything," replied Jerry, slowly. "It's pretty bad to accuse anybody of such a crime as this."

They asked a number of people about the robbery, but could gain no information which would directly implicate Si Peters and his crony.

"We had better keep mum for the present, Harry."

"What, and let the robbers escape?"

"Oh, I don't want that to happen."

The two talked it over for awhile, and when they returned home they were much troubled. But that night word came from New York City which mystified them greatly.

A detective telegraphed he had captured two tramps who confessed to a hotel robbery on Lake Otasco.

"That settles it," said Harry. "We were all wrong, and I am glad we said nothing."

On the following day they rowed over to Rockpoint for the Whistler. They heard no more about the hotel robbery, and the matter almost slipped their minds. But they were destined ere long to remember the occurrence full well.

Jerry and Harry talked matters over with their parents and made plans to sail down the Poplar River to Long Lake, and go to the yacht races at once.

Jack Broxton was to accompany them. Unfortunately for Blumpo, his father was taken sick and the youth had to remain behind to attend him.

Bright and early the next day the trip was commenced.

It lasted two days and three nights, and then they found themselves out on Long Lake, a large and beautiful sheet of water.

Harry and Jerry had studied up all the newspaper reports concerning the race between the Defender, a splendid yacht from the Poplar River, and the Spray, a craft from up the lake, and they knew exactly where to go in order to see the race to the best advantage.

"I know the captain of the Defender well," said Harry. "He and father are old friends."

"Maybe he'll let you on his yacht then," said Jerry. "My, but wouldn't that be jolly!"

"I won't go without you," said Harry.

"I would like to be on that yacht myself," said old Jack Broxton, as they presently came in sight of the Defender, anch.o.r.ed a short distance from the starting point of the race.

"We'll run up and I'll hail the captain," said Harry.

This suited everybody, and it was done. The captain of the Defender was on deck seeing to it that everything was in order for the race. He greeted Harry with a pleasant wave of his hand.

"Can we come on board and take a look around?" asked Harry.

"Yes, but you won't have time to waste," was the captain's reply. "We've got to get down to the starting point soon."

The Whistler was run up alongside, and Harry and Jerry leaped on board of the Defender. They shook hands with the captain, and also with Frank Lee, the captain's nephew, a bright boy of their own age.

They were much interested in the magnificent yacht and all of her appointments, and laughed greatly when Frank Lee s.n.a.t.c.hed off their caps and placed caps on them with the name of the Defender above the peaks.