island, and stared wonderingly at each other.
"See anything?"
"Not a thing."
"The boat must be somewhere."
"Maybe they sunk her!" cried the senator's son. "Merwell and Jasniff are just unprincipled enough to do it."
"If they did that, they must have done it close to where we tied her up. They wouldn't have time to take her away," returned Dave. "Let us go back and see if we can find any trail in the mud and sand."
They crossed the island, passing the chestnut trees as they did so. Under one of the trees Dave picked up a letter. It was addressed to Nicholas Jasniff, General Delivery, Rockville.
"Jasniff must have dropped this when he was nutting," said Dave, as he and the others looked at the address.
"What is in it?" asked Phil. "It's open; read it."
"Would that be fair, Phil?"
"I think so. Jasniff is an enemy, not a friend. It may contain some clew to his doings, and if there is anything underhanded going on we can let the authorities know."
Dave took out the single sheet that the envelope contained. On it was written, in a sprawling, heavy hand, the following:
