“Yes, and that’s why he was in such a hurry for us to start,” added Ned, and they told of their dealings with Blowitz, and his anger at their refusal to take part in his schemes.

“I can’t be thankful enough to you boys,” said the wounded man.  “I don’t know what would have become of me if you hadn’t happened to have seen Blowitz push me from the cliff.  I—­ I wish—­”

Mr. De Vere seemed overcome by a sudden weakness, and fell back on the pile of coats and seaweed.

“We had better get him to a doctor,” said Ned.  “He may be more injured than we suppose.”

“I—­ I’ll be all right in a little while—­ that is all but my arm,” said the injured man faintly.  “It was just a little weakness.  If you will give me some more water—­”

They gave him some and he seemed to feel better after that.  Then he tried to rise, but he had to fall back again.

“My ankle—­ I think it’s sprained,” he said.

“Then let us carry you to the boat,” suggested Jerry.

“I’m afraid you can’t.”

“Well, we can try.”

They did, but it was hard work.  By dint of carefully picking their steps over the rocks, however, the three boys finally managed to get Mr. De Vere into the cabin of the Ripper, where they made him comfortable on the cushions.

“Now speed her up for the doctor’s,” said Jerry to Ned, who had taken charge of the engine.  “That is if you know where to find one.”

“There is a physician whom I know, not far from the main wharf at San Felicity,” said Maurice De Vere.  “If you run the boat there I can get into a carriage and drive right to his house.  Then after he has set my arm, I should like to tell you my story.  That is, if you care to listen.”

“We certainly do,” said Jerry.  “We will be very glad to help you in any way that we can.”

“Will you?” asked the man eagerly.  “Then, perhaps, I can get ahead of Blowitz after all.”

Quick time was made to the dock, and, though it was quite late, the boys found several public hackmen on hand.  Mr. De Vere was put in one of the vehicles and driven to the doctor’s office, whither, after they had secured their boat, the boys followed.

It took a little time to set the broken arm, and, after some restoratives had been administered, and the sprained ankle, bandaged (though that hurt was not as severe as at first supposed) Mr. De Vere received the boys in his room, which his friend, the physician had provided.

“I do not want to detain you boys too long,” he said, “and it is not necessary to go into all the details of my story now.  I will tell you a little of it, and then I have a request to make of you.  I have been making plans while the doctor was working over me.  It helped me to forget the pain.”

“We’ll do anything we can for you,” promised Jerry, and the other boys nodded in assent.

“Well, Blowitz and I have been associated in many enterprises,” said Mr. De Vere, “but, of late, I have had my suspicions of him.  I began to fear he was trying to get the best of me, so that he would control all the interests.  Now I am sure of it.