When Terry had whispered his message to Don they woke up Jim, and standing at the window, the three boys looked toward the boathouse. While looking they were hastily dressing, tossing on a few clothes and pulling on rubber boots.
“I don’t see anybody,” Don whispered.
“He went around the side,” Terry answered. “Is there a window there?”
“Yes, there is. Are you ready, Jim?”
“Sure thing. Let’s go.”
They cautiously opened the back door, crossed the yard, and arrived at the front of the boathouse, where they paused for a moment to listen. Inside, they could hear someone walking around.
“Somebody in there, all right,” nodded Jim. “Shall we rush ’em?”
“Yes. We’ll catch them in a trap. Come on, kids.”
With that Don stepped around the corner of the boathouse. There was a small stick lying on the ground, and the boy stepped on it, causing it to break with a loud, snapping sound. Realizing that caution was now useless Don called out:
“Who is there?”