“Just to be mean,” declared the small chap.
“His own was probably out of commission,” put in Jerry. “It usually is, and I guess he wanted a ride, so he took ours.”
“He may damage it,” came from Ned.
“It would be just like him to,” asserted Andy. “He doesn’t care where he runs with a boat or an auto.”
“No, nor an airship either,” said Jerry. For Noddy, following the example of the motor boys, had managed to acquire a craft of the air, as well as one that skimmed over the water. He also owned an automobile.
“Think there’ll be any boats at the club house?” asked Ned, as they neared the river.
“There usually are at this time in the evening,” said Jerry. “We’ll confiscate one if we have to.”
During the past year the Cresville Athletic Club, to which our heroes belonged, had branched out into aquatics, and had built a fine boathouse on the river for the use of such of its members as had motor boats. As Jerry said, there were usually one or more such craft at the dock these Spring evenings.
It was now quite dark, for dinner, at which had been talked over the plan for getting the sixty nuggets of gold, had been somewhat protracted, and night had fallen when Andy Rush made his startling announcement.