The Mystery on Cobbett's Island

from the Star Fire.
    “Personally, I’d say ‘Three cheers for the Star Fire ,’ ” said Captain Price, smiling at them, “and especially for Trixie here, for thinking up that emergency light.”
    Trixie was glad it was so dark that no one could see her face, for she knew it was flaming.
    “And now, if you will be my guests, I’ll give you a tow back to the club,” the captain added as he stood up and prepared to board the cutter.
    “I’m sorry I ever said anything mean about a stinkpot,” Peter apologized. “I mean a powerboat,” he added hastily. “I guess they do have a purpose all their own, and it’s mighty lucky for us you came along when you did, sir.”
    “The Coast Guard is always happy to oblige,” replied the captain. “You know, personally, I prefer sailboats, too, but in the service we find these—er, ahem—stinkpots more practical.”
    One of the crew had already released the line Peter had thrown around the buoy, and it had been made fast to the cutter. On orders from Captain Price, the big boat began to move slowly ahead, with the Lightning riding gently behind.
    As they proceeded up the bay, Trixie told the captain about the yellow boat that had dashed past them earlier. “Do you think those two might have had anything to do with the broken buoy? They certainly looked as though they were up to no good.”
    “We’ve never noticed a boat of that particular description,” Captain Price replied, “but we are sure that this is the work of vandals; how many, we don’t know. There’s a pretty rough group who hang out around Jimmy’s Place, but every time we or the police go in there, it empties out as though we had the plague.”
    “Where’s Jimmy’s Place?” asked Mart.
    “It’s a dive near Pebble Beach on Cobbett’s Island,” the captain replied. “It used to be a good place to go for ice cream or a hamburger, but it was sold last year to some off-island people, and the whole character of the place has changed.”
    “You know,” said Trixie thoughtfully, “those two in the yellow boat just might be the ones you’re looking for. Would it help if we went down to Jimmy’s and tried to pick up some information?”
    “It’s very good of you to suggest such a thing,” said the captain, “but I’m afraid you young people wouldn’t have any better luck than we. You just aren’t the type to be hanging around a place like that.”
    “I’ll bet we could get ourselves fixed up so we’d look the type, even if we’re not,” continued Trixie, not to be discouraged from her plan.
    “I know we could,” said Mart enthusiastically. “We know the type. They all wear the same kind of clothes, as though they were afraid to be individuals. We could dress up like them, and since none of the people on the island know us, we wouldn’t arouse any suspicions when we turn up at Jimmy’s.”
    “Well, you certainly may try it if you want to,” the captain replied a little dubiously, “and if you get any information, you can always relay it through Abe White. You know Abe, don’t you?”
    “One of my best friends,” said Peter proudly.
    The Coast Guard boat had to go slowly to keep the Lightning on an even keel, and as they were making their way past the Greenpoint breakwater, Trixie, who had been standing near the pilot wheel, caught sight of a green light and a red light in the distance. The captain told her boats were required to carry such lights at night. When one of the crew put the searchlight on it, Peter saw that it was Cap in the club launch.
    “They’ve been out looking for us,” he cried. “Cap would know, when I hadn’t made port by dark, something was wrong. Good old Cap,” he added warmly.
    The two boats came close enough to each other for Peter to report that all was well, and then they headed for the club dock. As they approached land, they saw a sizable crowd gathered on the dock, and several flashlights were being shone across the dark waters of the harbor. Captain Price got out a megaphone from the cabin and, shouting through it, assured the crowd that all were safe.
    “It looks as though our late arrival had quite a lot of people worried,” said Peter. “My mother always gets jittery if I’m a little late getting back, even though she knows that with a sailboat you can never tell just what time you’ll be in.”
    “I’ll bet Miss Trask is frantic,” chimed in Trixie. “She’s been so nice about letting us do whatever we wanted since we