“I see no signs of it, but we shall have to examine further.”
The launch lay as close to shore as it had been possible to bring her—so close indeed that the two stepped aboard without use of a plank. The position of the moon in the sky was such that the shadow of the trees was cast several feet beyond the boat, which, as a consequence, was wrapped in obscurity. Peering here and there, the youths began a visual search for the evidence they did not wish to find. Alvin tried the covering, which had been drawn over the cockpit, preliminary to taking the bunch of keys from his pocket. It slid back easily.
“I thought I locked that,” he said in surprise.
“I remember you went through the motions, but you must have missed it.”
“So it seems.”
He stepped over, seated himself and grasped the steering wheel.
“Nothing is wrong here——”
“Hark!” whispered Chester.
The two listened and heard the muffled exhaust of a launch not far off.
“It comes from down stream,” said Chester.