For a while no one felt like speaking. The shock was too much for them. They could hardly realize that their craft was gone. Finally Jerry spoke.
“We’ve got to find her!” he exclaimed. “She’s somewhere on the river, up or down, and we’ve got to go after her. She can’t have been taken very far, for we’ve not been gone more than three hours.”
“If she was run at full speed she could get a good way off in that time,” observed Bob.
“Well, what’s to be done?” asked Ned.
“I think the best plan will be to start up or down the river,” said Jerry. “Chances are who ever took the boat went up, as they wouldn’t risk cruising past Cresville with it. So we’ll start up I think.”
“You mean walk?” asked Bob who was not inclined to any exertion when he could help it.
“Well I don’t see any one coming along with a launch or a water automobile, Chunky,” said Jerry. “I guess we’ll have to walk, a way at any rate. We’ll inquire of every one who lives along the river if they have seen the boat. We may get a line on her that way. So let’s start.”
“I wish we’d taken some of the grub out of her before we went away,” said Bob with a sigh.
“If they’ll give us back the boat they can have all the victuals and welcome,” spoke Ned.
“I guess you’re not as hungry as I am,” said Bob.