below to consult a chart, while the rest of us got the yacht under
way. When they came back on deck the Chief took the wheel,
announcing:

"Lanesport it is."

"Why Lanesport?" asked Pete.

"It's the nearest town on the mainland to Bailey's Harbor," said
Jimmy Toppan.

"Then I should think you'd better steer clear of it."

"Oh, they won't have heard anything yet," answered Sprague, lying
down on a seat, with his banjo. And he added: "Assisted by Simon,
I will now give you a little song."

"Do you think we'll find the 'Hoppergrass' at Lanesport?" inquired
Ed Mason.

"We can but try. We'll do a little sleuth-work there, anyhow."

"Who will you inquire from?"

"Oh, anybody. Do not interrupt me again, or I will sing 'Rocked in
the Cradle of the Deep.' Honest, I will."

A little before noon, we sailed up the river to Lanesport. The old
town lay very still in the baking sun. There were schooners in the
stream, and one or two at the wharves. A few sloop-yachts and cat-