"Oh, don't suggest such a thing!" returned one of the twins. "If you'd seen how badly his sister felt about his absence——"
"I expect the Longs are all broken up about it. And they have no mother," said Laura Belding, softly.
"And Billy could swim like a fish," quoth Lance Darby.
"No chance of his being drowned," declared Chet.
"But, do you suppose he sank the boat here to hide it—sank it purposely?" cried another girl. "Maybe he's hiding here. Why don't they search the island for him?"
"And the caves?" cried another.
"I'd like to get hold of him," Chetwood Belding said, gravely. "But Billy never in this world crawled through that basement window and opened the door for those burglars. I'll never believe it——"
"Not even if Billy said so himself, dear boy?" interposed Prettyman Sweet.
"I'd doubt it then," rejoined Chet, grimly. "And let me tell you fellows, this absence of Short and Long is a very bad thing for Central High. We lost the game with Lumberport just because Billy wasn't at short; you all know that. I'm mighty glad the game with West High was called off for to-day. Without Billy Long, Central High is very likely to win the booby prize on the diamond this season."
"Right you are, Chet," declared Lance Darby.