Page:Bedford-Jones--Boy Scouts of the Air at Cape Peril.djvu/225

 among the new arrivals. Hardy and the deputy instantly drew their pistols, pulled the two boys up to the shelter of the machine, and, after extinguishing the light, managed to get from the youngster a coherent story of what he had seen.

All had crouched and dropped their voices to whispers.

"It must be him," declared the deputy.

Then followed a brief recital of what had gone on at Seagulls' Nest, of the extinguished light, Turner's excursion, and the discovery of the telltale key.

"The dastardly scoundrel!" exploded Hardy, in spite of himself. "That's his game, is it?"

The deputy urged absolute silence on all while he listened.

"Not safe to follow him till light," whispered the officer to Hardy. "If he's lame, he can't get far."

"Wonder if Turner winged him?"

He was concerned about what might have happened at Cape Peril.

"Look here," whispered the officer in Hardy's ear. "We must get these boys away from here."