The San Francisco call., 1910-06-05
AANtFFL,
ny PERRY NEwRERRY


cryptogram message sent Snyder by
Razors" Kenny. Consequently Sny-
der, Kenny and two confederates were
in cells of the jail at Victoria, keeping
their mouths very tightly closed
throughout the long, private examina-
tons by the secret service men, True,
they were captured but what evidence
was there against them? No counter
1elt money had been found on them and
the dies, plates and tools were still in
the cave at the south end of the ISL
4 and. What island? For six weeks
the police had searched and it was still
mystery, and without the evidence
there concealed Queer Snyder had
hope that jury would acquit
Our seven, fresh from plunge in the
slough lay on the bank summing them
selves. Ed chewed vainly at a hard
Knot in his shirt that his brother Hen
had soaked in the salt bay water after
pulling taut.
"one," said Red, "do you think those
officers will ever find that island and
the cave? 1t shouldt take so much
time as this to hunt over every island
in the bay"
Perhaps it isn't in the bay at all."
suggested Stub, kicking his bare feet
in the air. There are other islands"
There's the Farallones and Catalina
and, oh. lots of them down the coast"
said Ed
And there's Juan Fernandez and
madagascar and the Philippines" said
Grant with scorn, but that plant isn't
on the Farallones or the Fijis or in
Polynesia or Oceania. 1t is some place
mighty close and convenient to San
Francisco. What do you say to trying
to find 1t ourselves?
''Us?" cried all the bows topetbar
How"
What's the matter with a boat trip
about the bay? Vacation is nearly
here"
Father would let me co. said Red.
He says know almost as much about
boat as he does himself"
There is no one to stop me-" boast
ed Stub Smith.
Til be good around home and keep
the chores up and 1 guess mother will
say yes" Tenny hoped. Bob, Hen and
Ed could vouch for their good natured
parents Then" said Grant, every
one is to find out for sure if he can go
meet at my house tomorrow after
noon and we'll plan just how we are
to go at it,"
Next day seven happy voices shouted,
Il can go" and whispered and planned
in the hay loft of the Gordons barn
"Father'S only command is,'' Grant ex-
plained, that we go in scow schooner
and keep to the bay. He won't let me
go unless / promise not to pass the
Golden Gate. He says if we keep in
the bay or the rivers in scow schoon-
er We'll be as safe as on land"
can we handle Scow schooner"
asked Stub. and they all looked at Red
who by virtue of his father being cap
tain of coasting schooner was looked
up to as an authority on things nauti-
cal
"a scow schooner" said Red gravely.
lis as simple to handle as sand
barge"
Got a bow like it's stern, square as
a wagon box" said One, "and room
enough in the hold and on deck to
carry hay warehouse. 1t will take
three weeks to get scow schooner in
condition. Father will go to San Fran
cisco tomorrow and see what he can
pick up. Lucky we've got that reward
money"
The Nancy N was the name of the
schooner which Captain Tucker moored
to the wharf at Vallejo week later,
after having received 500 in gold coin
from Grant and formally turning pos
session over to seven bright eyed and
happy boys, and so, on the first day of
vacation, the Nancy sailed down San
Pablo bay, the tide at it's ebb and a
brisk wind behind her, filling her sails
and driving the square bows through
the water.
"She plows along like a racing
yacht" cried Grant. Tets sail down the
bay to Alviso look over the islands in
the sloughs, and work our way back
hunting over the low islands. What
do you say boys?"
All the boys agreed and the course
was laid for Alviso. Late in the after
noon the wind fell off and only inter-
mittent puffs waited them by the great
city of San Francisco Here there were
tugs,@steamers and ferry boats enough
to worry Red, the sailing master, and
1T was no easy task TO keep out of
eVerybodys way. When darkness came
on they were still drifting a mile or
so south of the ferry tower.
Grant and Hen had the deck TO them
selves for the second watch, and a cold.
dark, lonesome deck il was. or to the
north. a fog bell tolled continuously;
tha Low hna rsa moan of a siaarn Zoo.