“Fellows,” said Frank, “if you’ll stand close so that I can keep my eyes on the river, I’ll tell you something that I just learned.”
Instantly the three boys were alert with interest.
“That boat that just went out of the island ahead of us is on the way to Jed Marmette’s place to get that stuff up there. It’s going up to-night and they are going to make their getaway.”
Nothing that Frank might have said could have brought to all three of the boys a greater shock of surprise than this.
They started to ask questions, but he stopped them:
“Wait a minute. Don’t be so fast with the questions. I’ll tell you all about it.”
Whereupon he recited the proceedings in the little grove of giant trees, the three boys keen to hear each word, and not a question from any of them to interrupt him.
“Now, they’ve pulled out. We’ve got to beat it back just as fast as possible to get this medicine to dad, and, if the doctor says I may leave, I’m going to see the police and get up there as quickly as we can.”
“But suppose—” started Lanky.
“I’ve thought about that, too,” answered Frank, knowing what Lanky had intended when he hesitated. “In case dad is not doing so well, I’m going to ask you three fellows to go to the police, tell them the story, tell them everything I saw as well as what you saw; and then take them up on the Rocket yourselves. Lanky knows exactly where the place is, and you’ll have to depend on Lanky’s ability to run the Rocket.”