"We ought to be pretty well satisfied with the splendid cruise of
the Monarch II," suggested Dave.

"Yes, but I'm getting anxious to run across some of the smugglers.
I've read a lot about them in the papers and books. They must be
great fellows to tackle, with their cutlasses, and walking the
plank, and treasure hoards."

"Why, Hiram," laughed Dave, "you're not thinking of smugglers."

"What am I then?"

"Pirates."

"Oh, yes, that's so," agreed Hiram. "Well, the Dawsons are worse
than pirates. They won't give up that airship without a tussle, I
can tell you."

"All I want to do is to locate them," said Dave. "The government
will do the rest."

Dave left the camp, as they called it, about noon. He had some
difficulty in getting from the island to the mainland, as the soil
was soggy and at places two feet deep with water. He accomplished
the task, however, with only a slight wetting.

The young aviator had been given the address, of one of Mr. Price's
men at Ironton. He visited his office, but found him absent for the
day. Then he wired his progress to the Interstate people and told