“Better wait awhile,” advised Bart. “They may have left some one on watch.”
It was weary waiting but the boys did not complain. It was so still they could hear the men in the small boat boarding the barge. Then there came the sound of the big craft getting underway. Bart peered out through the leaves. He could just make out the steamer.
“They’ve turned around! They’re heading down stream!” he said in an excited whisper. “I guess we’re safe now. Come on, boys!”
He scrambled down, followed by the others.
From the shore they could see the lights of the barge disappearing around a bend in the river.
“Must be something very queer in this, when our escape makes them turn around and go back,” spoke Bart.
“Looks as if we were surely mixed up in that mystery,” came from Frank. “Wish we knew how.”
“We’ll soon know,” replied Bart. “This thing will have to end in a little while. Now, the question is, what are we going to do?”
“Let’s look for a place to stay the rest of the night,” counseled Frank.