"Because some one might be spying and listening to us."
"He's got that on his mind yet," laughed one of the men. "There's no one around here."
"And if they were, what could they pick up?" demanded another.
"That's all right—it's best to be careful," said the one called Hemp Danforth. "I'm taking no chances. Some of us might—well, no telling what might happen to us if we was to be found out."
"Don't talk that way," spoke a tall, thin man. "It isn't altogether cheerful—especially with what work we have on hand. Come on, now; let's make this pillar a little higher, and the light will show better."
"Say, what do you imagine they are doing?" whispered Joe. "It's a queer game, Blake."
"It sure is. I've about made up my mind what they are up to, and yet I may be wrong. Let's wait here a while longer, and maybe we can pick up some information that will give us a better clue."
The men were now engaged in heaping more stones on the pile where the lantern had set, and were making so much noise at it that the whispering of the boys could not be heard.
"Any special vessels in view?" asked one of
