“It wouldn’t be like you to crack a joke, when we’re all mixed up like this.”
“A passenger aboard our boat, and none of us ever dream of it; well, I must say you’ve got me guessing, Thad. However could that be?” and Bumpus plucked at the sleeve of the patrol leader, as though thrilled through and through by the staggering announcement just made.
“Well, you see, it’s just dawned on me,” Thad commenced to say, “and I haven’t had much time to figure it out myself, but the more I think it over the stronger my belief grows. Look back a bit, and you’ll remember that we found a light in the cabin when we boarded the boat.”
“Yes, that’s so, Thad,” assented Giraffe.
“And supper cooking, too,” added Bumpus.
“With not a soul in sight, which we thought mighty queer,” Step Hen went on to say, as his contribution.
“And all the while we stayed there, up to the time the cable broke, there was never a sign of the man that owned the boat, either,” Davy reminded them.
“You remember,” Thad continued, “that we figured out at first the owner of the boat must have seen us coming, and hid himself somewhere ashore, hoping we’d take a look about and pass on. We even guessed he must have some reason to fear arrest, and thought we were connected with the state militia. But after learning of Wandering George’s being here on the island I’ve hatched up another idea, and I’ll tell you just what it runs like.”
“Good for you, Thad; we’re listening like everything,” muttered Bumpus, at the elbow of the chief scout.
“I’ve come to the conclusion,” Thad began, “that the two tramps must have chased the owner of the shanty-boat away some time before we struck in. Now that I’m on the track I can remember there were certain signs of confusion aboard when we first entered; things seemed tossed around, as if someone had been looking in places for hidden valuables. That would be just what these two yeggmen were apt to do, you see. And while one began to cook some supper, the other may have started in to ransack the place.”