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lucky they didn’t show up for the moonlight ride!”
    The Hardys brushed themselves off and walked back to their car. As Frank drove off he said wryly, “We found out one thing—those men sure don’t want us around.”
    Joe nodded. “It’s strange that it takes a captain, a mate, and two crew members to run a fifty-foot fishing cruiser. What do you think that fellow meant about a moonlight ride?”
    â€œI don’t know, but we ought to find out if he meant tonight. There’ll be a full moon. Let’s take the Sleuth out and keep an eye on the Daisy K.”
    At home the boys found a telegram from one of the paper mills. Frank read it and said:
    â€œJoe, did you ever hear of the Mediterranean Steamship Line? The records of this paper company show that the fouled anchor stationery was made for them and is used on all their ships. It was sold through the London office.”
    Joe said he had never heard of the line, but went to one of his father’s bookcases and brought back a book containing ships’ registries. He thumbed through it, then stopped at one page.
    â€œHere it is,” he announced. “Some of their ships ply between New York and the Middle East. I’ll check recent arrivals and departures.”
    â€œGood idea.”
    As Joe scanned the shipping news in the Bayport Times, he said, “Here’s an item on one—the Continental. She arrived in New York early this week. Her normal course would have taken her close to the coast at Bayport. Say, do you think the Continental might be the ship that’s bringing aliens to the United States?”
    â€œCould be,” Frank said. “But it might just be a ship on which one of the gang was traveling.”
    Determined to track down every possible clue, Frank called the Mediterranean Line’s New York office. He explained that the Hardys were detectives, working on a government case, and asked for a list of Indian passengers on recent voyages to New York. The passenger agent assured him that it would be mailed at once, together with any other helpful information the line could give.
    â€œWith that cooperation, it sounds as if the company’s on the up and up,” Frank remarked.
    Just as the moon was rising that evening, Frank and Joe headed for the Sleuth, which was still moored at the dock they had left it the night of the fire. They paused to note the progress of repairs on their boathouse.
    â€œIt’ll be at least two weeks before we can take the Sleuth back,” Frank commented.

    The boys were thrown onto the dock
    â€œYes, and the firebug hasn’t been caught yet,” Joe said as Frank took the wheel.
    Soon they were speeding out of Bayport harbor. There were a number of islands near the inlet where they could wait for their quarry. Frank chose one that lay in shadows, cut the motor, and turned off their running lights.
    â€œI feel like one of those falcons ‘waiting on’ until its prey comes along,” Joe said, grinning.
    In the moonlight the boys could see boats moving up and down the harbor, but all of them were pleasure craft. Finally, however, Frank whispered:
    â€œThere’s a boat with the Daisy K’s lines.”
    Both boys positively identified Captain Flont’s craft as it chugged past them. They gave it a reasonable lead, then started after it. The chase continued for about five miles, then the Daisy K slowed down. Frank cut his engine.
    A few minutes later a large motor dory appeared beyond the fishing boat and pulled alongside. A rope ladder clattered over the rail of Flont’s ship and two men scrambled down the rungs into the dory.
    As the smaller boat pulled away toward the open sea, the Daisy K started up again, turned in a wide arc, and headed back toward Bayport.
    â€œWe’ve got to find out where that dory’s going!” Joe said.
    The Sleuth took up the chase!

CHAPTER X
    Hunting a