The very first words spoken by Si Peters confirmed the young oarsman’s suspicions.

“What did you do with the valise, Wash?” he asked.

“Left it on the yacht at the cove,” replied Wash Crosby.

“That’s where you made a big mistake.”

“How so?” growled the toady.

“They might take it into their heads to search the yacht.”

“Oh, I guess not.”

“We don’t want to run any chances of being found out.”

“We’re all right; don’t worry.”

“Perhaps we are and perhaps we are not.”

“Oh, keep still, and let us enjoy the music,” growled Crosby, for an orchestra was now playing.

A waiter came up and Si Peters gave an order. Jerry was quite sure he had ordered something stronger than what he was in the habit of drinking at home. It was evident that the bully of Rockpoint had turned out even worse than before.

“What shall we do?” whispered Harry.

“We ought to inform the police.”

“Just my idea of it.”

“I don’t know if there are any officers around here.”

“Oh, there must be.”

They looked around, but in the darkness no policeman could be seen.

“You stay here and I’ll go hunt up somebody,” said Jerry.

Scarcely had he spoken, however, when their attention was attracted to a row that was taking place in the concert hall. Two men were fighting, and presently a chair flew through the air.

At once those sitting around tried to retire.

Peters and Crosby rushed out in the crowd, and not to lose sight of the pair Jerry and Harry went after them.

Fifty feet from the concert hall the four came face to face. Si Peters started back, and Wash Crosby wanted to run for it.

“Who—what?” stammered Peters.

“We have caught you,” said Jerry, boldly. “You may as well give in.”

“What do you mean?”

“We know that you robbed the Rockpoint Hotel,” said Harry.

“It’s not so,” cried Crosby.

“Shut up!” hissed Si Peters.

Without warning he hit Jerry a sharp blow in the face. Then he rushed at Harry and tripped him up.

“Come on!” he yelled to Crosby. “We must get away!”

Like a deer he ran off, behind a large roller coaster where all was dark.

Jerry stopped Peters, but only for a moment. Heavy blows were exchanged and then Peters followed his chum.

“They are gone, sure enough!” cried Harry, in dismay.

And gone they were, swallowed up in the crowd which surged on all sides of them.

Jerry and Harry searched in vain for the two evil-doers and then hunted up the police and told their story.

A watch was set, but Si Peters and Wash Crosby managed to escape from the beach resort without being detected.

Jerry and Harry returned to Lakeview with the Whistler, and the report spread that Si Peters and Wash Crosby had robbed the hotel.

At first Mr. Peters refused to believe it. He came over to Jerry’s home, and threatened Mr. Upton with a lawsuit.

But the farmer quickly silenced him.

“Don’t say a word to me, Mr. Peters,” he said. “A boy that will try to tar and feather another boy, and then set fire to a barn and burn up cattle, isn’t none too good to rob a hotel.”

“My son is as good as yours!” growled Mr. Peters, and went off in a perfect rage. But he bothered the Uptons no more, nor did he go near the Parkers.

The lake was searched, and the yacht found up at the cove Si Peters had mentioned. On board was found the valise taken from the hotel.

After this detectives were sent out to find the two young rascals. But Si Peters and Wash Crosby kept out of sight.

Yet the day of reckoning was not far off, as we shall soon see.

About a week after this Harry invited Jerry to a drive along the west shore of Lake Otasco.

As they bowled along they talked over all sorts of matters, and presently Harry mentioned Si Peters and Wash Crosby.

“I wonder if they are still hanging around Harmony Beach?” he said.

“Oh, I don’t think they would dare,” replied Jerry. “They must know by the newspapers that the detectives are on their track.”

“I wish we could bring them to justice. It would be a feather in our cap.”

“So it would, Harry. But I would rather have the law do the work. I never want to have anymore to do with either of them.”

It did not take the two boys long to drive to the lower end of the lake. Here the team was put up at a livery stable, and the chums hired bathing suits and houses, and spread themselves for a fine dip in the lake.

The water was just right, and they enjoyed every second of the half hour they allowed themselves.

It was eight o’clock in the evening before they went to get their team again.

The moon was just coming up over the rim of the lake and this promised them a splendid drive back to Lakeview.

As Harry and our hero entered the turnout two figures stole up from the back of the barn.

The pair were Si Peters and Wash Crosby.

They ran on ahead, and as the boys waited to settle with the livery stable keeper they soon disappeared.

Harry drove, and the young oarsman leaned back and took it easy.

A mile was covered, and they were just passing a clump of bushes when whizz! a stone came flying into the carriage. It struck Jerry on the arm, causing him to cry with pain.

“Who threw that?” he exclaimed.

Whizz! came another stone. It struck Harry in the cheek, drawing blood.

“Whoa!” yelled Jerry, and while the horses were still in motion, he leaped to the road.

He had noted the direction from which the missiles came, and bound off, but behind the bushes all was dark.

“Look out for yourself!” cried Harry.

He was busy with the horses, who were shying first to one side and then to the other.

At first Jerry could see nothing, but soon he discovered two forms in the semi-darkness.

He rushed over and found himself face to face with Si Peters and Wash Crosby.

“Peters!” he ejaculated.

Scarcely had he spoken when a club was raised. Jerry tried to avoid the descending blow, but was only partly successful.

The club landed over his shoulder and neck and he was more than half stunned.

“Come!” he heard Peters whisper to Crosby, and then all became a confused whirl and he pitched forward in the grass.

The two rascals ran out into the road.

“That for you, Harry Parker!” yelled Si Peters, and struck Harry in the knee with the club.

In the meantime Wash Crosby sprang half into the carriage.

He made a grab at Harry’s gold watch chain.

The chain broke from the buttonhole and along with it came Harry’s beautiful timepiece.

“I’ll keep this to remember you by!” cried Wash Crosby in derision, and away he sped across the highway and down a side road, with Si Peters at his heels.