Doubtful what to do, Ed called in a low voice:
"Hello, there! Hello, the boat!"
There was no answer. No one raised up in the boat.
"Strange I didn't see that boat before," muttered Ed. "It must just be tied up under here. There can't be anyone in it or they would have shown themselves by this time. I'll go for it."
He had succeeded in convincing himself that the boat was empty.
Such is the reasoning of a boy; such the chances a boy takes.
For Ed it was a great big miss.
He reached the boat, clutched the gunwale, which was unusually high, and throwing in the case, pulled himself up.
Instantly strong hands clutched him, and he was pulled down on top of two men. Ed was terribly frightened.
So certain was he that he was making no mistake that he had taken almost no precaution towards the last.