They walked to the spot and made a thorough search, but the watch failed to come to light. Dick gave a long sigh.
"I'm out that timepiece, and I guess for good," he murmured.
They were about to return to the houseboat, when Dick saw the planter approaching once more.
"Ha, so you have come back, suh!" he cried.
"Did you see anything of my watch?" remanded Dick sharply.
"Your watch?"
"Yes; it's gone."
"I saw nothing of a watch."
"I suppose that other fellow came back with an officer, didn't he?" went on the eldest Rover sarcastically.
"I did not—ah—see him, suh."