“What did you want? Were you on our boat?” demanded Ned, and then, as the two in the small craft maintained a silence, Ned flashed the light full in their faces. As he did so he gave a cry that brought Jerry and Bob out to him.
“What’s the matter?” cried the tall lad. “Are you hurt, Ned? Did they attack you?”
“No, I’m all right. But look at that boat! See who’s in it!”
Jerry and Bob gazed across the stretch of black and swirling water, illuminated by the shaft of light from the search lantern. It threw into bold relief the boat and the occupants.
“Noddy Nixon!” gasped Jerry, as he saw the face of the bully.
“But who’s with him?” asked Bob. “I’ve never seen him before, that I know of.”
“He’s a stranger, I guess,” said Ned. “Noddy must have hired him to help get ahead of us.”
“But what were they doing here?” asked Bob.
“Trying to sneak up while we were asleep, to see what they could get, I suppose,” remarked Jerry.
“My specimens!” exclaimed Professor Snodgrass, who had come out to join the boys. “That’s what they were after. That yellow grasshopper is what they wanted!”