Clay rowed the two boys ashore, saw that they were provided with automatic revolvers and flashlights, and then took the boat back to the Rambler. It was left ready for instant use, however, with weapons and flashlights on the stern seat.
“There’s something strange about that boy Frank,” Jule commented, as the two boys disappeared in what seemed from the boat to be a solid wall of green foliage, their flashlights showing only dimly through the heavy undergrowth. “I don’t understand him at all. What kind of a cargo can he get in there in the darkness? And what is keeping him from telling us all about it?”
“I don’t quite understand why he should make a mystery of the proposed cargo, as we are all equally interested with himself in the matter,” Clay admitted. “I don’t see why he shouldn’t be as confidential with us as we have always been with him. He has never explained to my satisfaction why he was hanging around the warehouse in the rain that night on the South Branch.”
“Why, he was lonesome, and homesick, and anxious to go along with us, yet afraid to ask,” interposed Alex. “Anyway, he’ll tell us when he gets good and ready. Don’t let’s knock!”
“That’s slang!” Jule shouted. “You wash dishes!”
“Is that slang, Clay?” asked Alex.
“Well, it’s a short and vigorous way of expressing a sensible admonition, so we may as well let it go,” Clay replied.
“Sensible admonition! I’ll write that down!” laughed Jule.
“And the finding of the diamonds! And the newspaper with the penciled hand pointing to the advertisement offering the $500 reward for the return of the gems,” Clay went on, “is another strange thing. Who could have placed the marked newspaper where it was found? You remember, Jule, that the lawyer who paid over the reward asked me how the newspaper came to be there, and I couldn’t tell him!”
“No one had been ashore that morning except Frank,” Jule said, “and he went away early, and might have sneaked back with the paper. It wasn’t there the night before. It sure was either Frank or Captain Joe who put the paper there.”