“No, you come along. You can clean up after we get back.”
“Have you a long boathook handy, Gif?” asked Spouter. “You know, Randy and I want to rescue our handbags if we can.”
“Sure! We’ll take a couple of them along,” was the answer.
It did not take the party long to reach the place where the two rowboats and their supplies had been left. They had covered the supplies with a raincoat and with some tree branches, and now found them in fairly good condition.
“What do you say, Fred, if you and I go back with Jeff and carry all we can,” said Gif to the stout young Rover. “Jack and Andy can help Spouter and Randy look for the lost baggage and the missing rowboat. Then, when they get back, we’ll have a good meal ready for them.”
“Suits me,” said Fred, and in a little while he and Gif set off in company with Jeff, each loaded down with all he could carry. This work did not suit the colored man at all, but Gif paid scant attention to his grumbling.
The other boys found it no easy task to locate the missing suitcases. They paddled around in both boats for the best part of a quarter of an hour without success. Then Jack suggested that he undress and look around as best he could under water.
“Well, you take care that you don’t get stuck the same as I was,” said Randy.
“I’ll be careful, don’t fear,” was Jack’s answer. “I’ll take one of the poles down with me.”
He was soon in the water, and after diving several times managed to locate Spouter’s baggage and fasten it to the boathook. Then this was hoisted up, and Jack went down again, and after another long search found the rest of the baggage.