“If they ate up everything they carried for dinner they will have to go without supper and breakfast,” added Paxton.
“How are you, Ritter!” cried Jack, pleasantly.
The entire crowd ahead wheeled around and a look of blank astonishment came into their faces.
“Why—er—where did you come from?” stammered Ritter. He did not know what to say.
“From Butterfly Island,” answered Jack. Then he lowered his voice and added: “Ritter, you and your cronies have got yourselves in a nice mess. You stole Mr. Fales’s boat, and he says if you don’t return it to him by to-morrow morning he’ll have you all locked up!”
CHAPTER XXIII
A WILD GOOSE CHASE
The announcement that Jack made filled the Ritter crowd with alarm, and they showed it.
“Have us arrested?” cried the bully, and he grew somewhat pale.
“That is just what he said,” broke in Pepper. “Fun is fun, but to steal a launch is another story.”
“We didn’t steal the boat,” came from Coulter. “We—er—What do you know about it anyway?” he demanded suddenly.