Then you meet a boy who tried to
let your fuel leak away. Then you meet the man who bores your ship full
of holes, then you find me and we get disturbed by the possibility of
Charley's being on that fishing schooner and now the boys have
disappeared. It is not possible that someone has stolen our boats. It
just couldn't happen. It mustn't happen."
"Well, it's the very thing that did take place," Tom answered. "Now it's
a weary wait until they bring the boats back or else we'll walk back to
town. I think we'd better start walking now."
"Come on, I'm game," declared Frank wheeling in his tracks. "Does
Doright know the way back to town by the pedestrian method?"
"Sure," answered the one mentioned. "Ah knows every hook and crook
around these here parts. I've been borned and raised yere."
"Then show us the way to town," entreated Jack. "We're tired."
"Ah kin beat walkin'," replied Doright. "Ah'se got a boat."
The boys capered about in high glee at the prospect of a boat ride so
handy. Their enthusiasm was contagious and Doright actually hurried as
he went away to the place where his boat was hidden.
In a short time he returned and the boys embarked. The boat was a flat
bottomed affair, made for fishing purposes, and was to be noted because
of its rugged and simple construction, rather that for being a thing of
beauty. Doright handled the craft with skill.
"Now then, engineer," Tom cried flinging himself full length in the
bottom of the boat, "let out a link! We're going home!"
Doright's application to the oars quickly brought the party to a point
where they could distinguish the riding lights of the vessels at anchor
in the river.
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