"Polly!" she exclaimed, again in a whisper, "it's I--Wyn--Wyn Mallory."
At once she heard her friend's voice in return. The shutter opened. Polly blinked at Wyn through the darkness.
"My _dear_! What do you want? What has happened?" asked the girl of the woods.
"Come on out--do, Polly. I've got something to tell you. Just put on your bathing suit," Wyn whispered.
"Just a minute," whispered the sleepy Polly, and in not much longer than the time stated she crept through the window.
"I'd wake father if I went out by the door," she said. "Now come down to the landing. What are you doing 'way over here at this time o' night?"
"I have the most surprising thing to tell you."
"I wish you'd go over to Gannet Island with me and see if I'm right. The moon will be up bye and bye; won't it?"
"Yes. But what do you mean? What is the mystery?" inquired Polly. Then she seized Wyn's arm and demanded that she "Hush!" although Wyn's lips were not open at the moment.
"I declare I thought I heard something just then," whispered Polly.
"You're bound to hear things in the dark," returned Wyn, cheerfully.
"A bird?" ventured Wyn. "I heard one splashing in the sedges as I came along in the canoe."
"A bird clearing its throat?" laughed Polly. "Not likely!"
She did not bother about it again, but squeezed Wyn's arm. "Tell me what the matter is. It must be something very important to bring you 'way over here alone at night."
"That's right. It is," replied Wyn, and she related to Polly the thing that was troubling her.
"And, oh, Polly! if that thing I hit under the water should be that boat----"
"He'd be delighted. So would we all. And we must find out for sure."
"I'll tell him in the morning. We'll go there and see----"
But Wyn stopped her. She showed her how necessary it was for the matter to be looked into secretly. Mr. Lavine had promised to give a motor boat to whichever club found the sunken _Bright Eyes_ and the silver images. And the Busters must not know a thing about it until they were sure----
"Then Mr. Lavine believes father's story about the boat?" burst in Polly.
"I believe he does, Polly, dear. I think, Polly, that he would be very, very glad to have Mr. Jarley cleared of all suspicion. He is sorry for your father's trouble. I think his attitude, toward your father has changed from what it must have been at one time."