"Then this is the very thing we're looking for!" cried Blake. "Look, it is dated only a short time before he left. I see now," and he gave the lighthouse keeper a peculiar look, when Joe was not glancing in his direction. "Mr. Duncan got word that he could ship as a mate, and he left in a hurry."
"Maybe so," assented Mr. Stanton.
"Perhaps he had some new clue about you, Joe, or possibly about your sister," suggested Blake, hoping his chum would come to take this view.
"Maybe," assented Joe. "But it's queer he didn't leave some word, or tell someone he was going."
"He may not have had time," went on Blake. "Vessels have to sail in a hurry, lots of times, and he may have had to act quickly."
"It's possible," admitted the keeper.
"Then I'll tell you what we'll do," continued Blake. "We'll go to San Francisco the first chance we get, and see this shipping agent. He may be able to put us on the right track."
"I guess it's the only thing to do," agreed Joe, in despondent tones. "Poor Dad! I nearly found him, and then I lost him again."
They looked over the other papers. None offered as promising a clue as did the agent's
