“And Mabel and I will go too,” said Shirley.
Dick looked at young Wolfe somewhat dubiously.
“It is hardly girls’ work,” he replied.
“Right you are,” agreed Leonard. “You girls stay here by the boat.”
“But we want to go,” Mabel pouted. “We are more interested in this than any of you.”
“The young men are right,” said Jenkins firmly. “Jones must be a desperate man. You girls are safer here.”
“We do not wish to be obstinate,” said Shirley. “We know that you are doing this for us, and if you tell us to stay here, we shall do so, of course.”
Jenkins and the two young men breathed a sigh of relief, as did the two policemen.
“You wait here until we return then,” said Leonard. “Come on, men.”
The five disappeared in the woods, leaving the two girls beside the boat alone.