“Yes, sir—disappeared while I was having dinner. I thought she might have drifted around the shore, but I can’t find her anywhere.”
“Did you tie her fast?” asked Pepper.
“Certainly, I always tie up when I come ashore,” answered Able Fales.
“Let us go down to the shore and take a look around,” suggested Jack.
Wondering over what had become of the boat, the entire party left the picnic grounds and hurried down to the lake front. Here was a small cove where they had landed, and Able Fales pointed out an overhanging tree to which he had secured his craft.
“Even if she got loose I don’t think she’d drift out of the cove,” said the boatman. “There is no current here to carry her out.”
“Well, she is gone, sure,” remarked Andy. He turned to his chums. “What do you make of this.”
“I’d hate to say,” said Dale.
“Then you think it is a trick?” questioned Jack.
“Doesn’t it look like it? Remember the hornets’ nest.”