“That’s what,” replied the chief of the Cresville force. “We’re out on business this trip. But what’s the matter with you? Got tired of your new boat so soon?”
Jerry quickly explained what had happened. The chief was much surprised. The Terror had been stopped and, at the invitation of the police official, the boys came into the motor boat. There were several policemen aboard and the engineer.
“Shall we tow our boat?” asked Bob.
“Better leave it tied to the bank,” said the chief. “I want to make all the speed I can. We’ll pick it up on the way back, that is if you boys want to come along with us.”
“We sure do,” said Jerry. “We’d like to have your help in finding our boat.”
“Maybe I can kill two birds with one stone,” the chief replied. “There was quite a robbery at Northville last night, and they telegraphed for me to help. The thieves got away in a motor boat, it seems.”
“Northville,” said Jerry. “That’s the very place we stopped for lunch, where the gasolene man said he saw our boat. Who was robbed?”
“Why they broke into the general store there, and got away with about a thousand dollars in cash that was in the safe from the Saturday night sales. They haven’t much of a police force in the town, and they asked me to help ’em out.”
“Maybe the same men who stole our boat robbed the safe,” ventured Ned.