Before this intention could be carried out, however, another element forced itself into the case. There came a shout from the shore and the sound of heavy footfalls on the planking of the pier.
“What’s going on here!” demanded a gruff voice. “What’s all this running round in circles about?”
There was no answer from the outside, and the boys in the cabin did not feel qualified to answer any such questions, so they remained perfectly quiet, until, in a second, the heavy voice came again.
“Come out of that, you wharf rat!” it said. “Come out where I can see you.”
“That’s a member of the river police,” Clay suggested. “They always talk about wharf rats.”
“Who is he talking to?” queried Case, puzzled. “The person on our deck, whoever he is,” Clay decided.
Then the nervous sounds on the door continued, and a voice said:
“Will you let me in, please?”
“Sounds like a girl’s voice.”
This from Alex, who stepped forward as he spoke.