Scout Master Hall was right when he said Alvin Landon and Chester Haynes would not waste a minute in carrying out the task he had given them. They were to secure the arrest of the men who it was believed had kidnapped the little daughter of Doctor Spellman, before they could leave that section. In addition, they aimed to get the help of George Burton and his bloodhound.  
This last was far more important than the other, and would insure the discovery of the fate of the child. If Zip was allowed to take the within twenty-four hours after she left home—and possibly a little later—he would never lose it.
 
It was four miles over the rough broken trace to the highway, and then two more of smoother traveling would bring them to the straggling town of Bovil, where they hoped to secure telephonic communication with Boothbay Harbor and other near by towns. If that could be done, they could reach Samoset Hotel, on Mouse Island, by the same means. It would be like young Burton to start at once. He could be taken quickly across to Boothbay in a motor-boat, where he knew the right course to follow, since he had been over it with Zip. He would have to the Sheepscot and walk three miles to reach Bovil, but if a midnight start was made, he ought to reach the village at daylight and soon after.
 
It was between eleven and twelve o’clock that Alvin and Chester came in sight of the score of buildings which make up the village of Bovil. When they passed through it on their way to Gosling Lake, they paid so slight attention that they could not recall whether it had an inn. Vastly to their delight, however, they came upon the old-fashioned structure near the center of the place, and it was the only one in which a light was burning.
 
“That’s luck,” said Alvin, as the two the steps, pushed open the door and entered the roomy office, with its unpainted desk, broad fireplace where no wood was burning, a bench without any back, several rickety chairs, and showy posters on the walls for the information of travelers by boat or rail.
 
Staring around the room, by the dim light of the lamp suspended from the middle of the ceiling, the youths at first saw no person, but heavy breathing directed attention to a settee at the other side, upon which a young man was stretched at full length, with his coat doubled under him for a pillow. He was the model watchman, who was aroused only by vigorous shaking. By and by he assumed a sitting , and blinked at the disturbers.
 
“What do you want?” he demanded sourly.
 
“Can you get us a room?”
 
“’Spose so. Why didn’t you come earlier?”
 
“Because we came later,” replied Chester; “have you got a telephone in the house?”
 
“’Course we have,—what of it?”
 
“We want to use it at once to call up Boothbay Harbor.”
 
“This ain’t no time to bother with such things; you’ll have to wait till morning. What bus’ness had you to wake me up?”
 
“See here,” said Alvin, who was in no mood for , “we have come a good many miles to reach a telephone; this is a case of life and death; we haven’t a minute to spare.”
 
“Don’t make no difference; you’ll have to wait till to-morrer morning.”
 
“Give me the number of the Chief of police at Boothbay.”
 
As Alvin made the request, he slipped two silver half dollars into the bony hand of the young man. This effected the purpose intended. He became wide awake on the instant, stepped briskly to the desk, caught up the receiver of the instrument, asked and answered several questions, and after a brief wait, nodded to Alvin, who with Chester stood at his elbow.
 
“Here you are,” he said, passing the receiver to the former; “Art Spofford is the chief of police at Boothbay, and he’s at t’other end of the wire.”
 
Artemus Spofford, or “Art” as he is called by every one, was , and 284replied that no tramps had been seen in town for several weeks, but he and his officers would be on the alert and arrest and hold any answering the description. Not only that, but he volunteered to communicate with the neighboring towns and see that every possible precaution was taken.
 
“Leave it to me,” he added; “don’t mix in; I can attend to it better than you; how shall I reach you, if we in the gentlemen?”
 
It was agreed that Art should ’phone to Bovil, where some of the Boy would call at of a few hours to get any message left for them. This arrangement was the most convenient for all concerned.
 
It took some trying minutes for Alvin to get Hotel Samoset on Mouse Island. It looked as if Everett Ham, the night clerk, was also asleep at his post, but I must not do the faithful young man that . He responded after a time, and an understanding was speedily reached.
 
“Is George Burton staying at your hotel?”
 
“Yes; he has been here for a week.”
 
“Please call him to the ’phone as quickly as you can; this is of the utmost importance; don’t delay for a moment.”
 
“Hold the wire.”
 
With his ear to the receiver, Alvin Landon plainly heard by means of the marvelous inven............