“Why not use the Catch Me?” I replied. “I suppose she is lying right where we left her.”
This was agreed to, and we made for the shore of Rock Island Lake without delay.
To our astonishment the Catch Me was gone!
What did it mean? I gazed about in perplexity. Suddenly Constable Pointer gave a shout.
“That explains it! Avery came back and took the boat! I’ll bet he landed at some other point where he thought he would be free from pursuit!”
“I think you are right,” replied Captain Harley. “We must take the Mary and look for him.”
This was agreed to; and they left the rest of us to return to Bayport. I trusted they would succeed in their mission, not only for the sake of capturing the robber, but also that my beautiful sloop might be returned to me.
It took us quite a while to secure another craft in the vicinity. However, we at length hailed a fishing-sloop, and the owner agreed to take us down the lake provided we would put up with such accommodations as his boat afforded.
“Good enough,” said Chief Larkins. “The main thing is to get there.”