Taking Cliff's screwdriver-bladed knife, Tom went to the rearward door, into the engine room, and with the knife removed the screw from its knob, leaving the inner side of the door with no means of opening it. Then he "stood by," watching, listening.

In the bows, hiding his face, using as gruff an imitation of Tew's voice as he could, Cliff hailed the man in the boat in a low tone. "Come into the cabin, you," he said. Then he hurried away.

Presently those in the cabin—Don Ortiga, Tew, their sailors and the cook, were surprised to see the boatman appear in their midst.

Before they could question him or get his inquiry as to what they wanted, the door behind him slammed as did the engine room door.

There was confusion, then oaths, then excited stamping; of course the time it took them to discover that they were trapped was not long; nor did it take overlong to get the knob back onto the door after an excited hand wrenched it away. But the time was enough.

When the infuriated members of the hi-jacker band finally raced up the deck toward their tender, they found the dipped end of a rope as a memento.

The Mystery Boys, well away and out of sight around the island, were rowing the captured tender with all their strength.

"We can't claim salvage!" panted Nicky. "But we are out of the grip of those men—and we have a boat—we're free men again!"

"And there's a light—a boat or something, up the coast," cried Tom. "Nicky, pull hard on your port oar—you too, Cliff."

"Right-o!" they answered with a will, pulling the tender on a swinging curve. "We'll pull for it. It may be the cutter!"

It was stationary, and not very far away; but as they neared it they saw that it was not the cutter.

It was another cabin boat, lying, apparently, at anchor.

Cautioning his chums not to hail until they knew whether it was a suitable craft for their rescue, they drew slowly closer.

From the vessel came a gruff hail.

"I've got you covered!" it cried. "Two of you put your hands up, and one pull your boat up alongside till we have a look!"

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