“You had better clear out of here before something worse happens to you and your boat.”
“Who signs it?” asked Ned.
“It has ‘The River Pirates’ at the bottom,” said Jerry, “but I’d be willing to bet a new hat against a cookie that it’s Noddy Nixon’s writing.”
“Then the Bluebird has been here in our absence,” said Bob.
“Looks so,” admitted Jerry. “Now let’s see if any great damage has been done.”
They made a hasty examination, but beyond tearing up the camp, and upsetting things, nothing appeared to have been stolen or seriously damaged. It seemed that the visitors merely wanted to annoy the boys.
There was nothing much that could be done until morning, so the boys, seeing that the Dartaway was securely made fast, went to sleep on board. They rested undisturbed until morning.
“Now to hunt for the mysterious schooner!” exclaimed Ned after breakfast. “Do you know I have a good scheme?”
“Let’s hear it,” said Jerry.