CHAPTER XXVII 

THE COLLISION IN THE FOG 

"Hullo! Mumps isn't keeping this flag of truce very good," remarked Sam, as the seashell dropped at his feet. 

"There is something inside of the shell," said Tom. "A bit of paper. Perhaps it's a message?" 

"I'll soon see," returned his younger brother, and ran to where he could not be seen from the other yacht. 

He pulled from the seashell a small, square of paper, upon which had been hastily scrawled the following in lead pencil: 

"I will help you all I can and hope you won't prosecute me. I will see that Dora S. gets something to eat, even if I give her my share. They intend to go to Sand Haven if they can give you the slip." 

"Good for Mumps! He's coming to his senses," cried Sam, and showed the others the message. Dick read the words with much satisfaction. 

"I hope he does stand by Dora," he said. "If so, I'll shield him all I can when the crowd is brought up for trial." 

"If he tells the truth we may as well put into harbor and make for Sand Haven," said Martin Harris, who had now resumed the chase once more. 

"Yes; but he may not be telling the truth," was Sergeant Brown's comment. "The whole thing may be a trick to get us to go to Sand Haven while that crowd goes somewhere else." 

"I think they are tired of carrying the girl around," said Carter. "To give her up to us would have been no hardship." 
who sent the message about Dora?
who thought it might be a trick?
where did he think it was trying to get them to go?
what was in the shell?
what was on the paper?
written in what?
who offered to give Dora their food?
where did he say they were going?
who did carter think they had grown tired of carrying?
was the paper in the shape of a circle?
what shape was it?
was the writing neat?
how did Mumps message make Dick feel?
who did Sam show it to?
Mumps
Mumps
Sergeant Brown
Yes; but he may not be telling the truth," was Sergeant Brown's comment.
Sand Haven
o go to Sand Haven while
A bit of pape
There is something inside of the shell," said Tom. "A bit of paper. Perhaps it's a message?" 
a message
 Perhaps it's a message?" 
lead penci
lead penci
Mumps
Dora S. gets something to eat, e
Sand Haven
They intend to go to Sand Haven if they can give you the slip." 

Dora
I think they are tired of carrying the girl around," said Carte
no
square of paper
square
square of paper
no
 hastily scrawled
satisfied
Dick read the words with much satisfaction
the others
Sam, and showed the others