“Mighty little left in that old house the last time I was there.”
“You’ll see, in time!” Tom said, with a knowing wink at Clay.
“Explanations in the future!” Clay exclaimed. “Just now we’ve got to get past that sympathetic crowd and back to the boat. Say, Don,” he added, in a moment, “I can’t wait to get back to the Rambler before asking one question, and that is this: Did you come aboard the Rambler and get the money? If you did, say so—quick!”
“I certainly did!” Don answered. “If I hadn’t would have been lost, for Teddy was playing with it!”
“That’s enough!” Clay said. “I’ll learn how and why later on. Wonder if King is in that crowd out there? It was he who locked us in.”
“He is not,” grinned Case. “The mob got after him for locking you up in such a dangerous hole, and he took to his heels! He won’t dare show himself around here for a few days.”
“Then all we have to do is to get rid of the crowd,” Clay explained.
Of course there were many who wished to shake hands with the rescuers and the rescued, and even Captain Joe came in for a fair share of praise, but the boys were soon out of the crowd and on their way to the boat.
At the water front they found the riverman, still growling and sulking over the loss of the boat Tom had hired the night before. Tom told him where the boat had been left, and Clay paid him for the use of it, so he eagerly consented to row the boys to the Rambler, and, later on, to convey their provisions and gasoline to them.
“I’m glad we find the boat still here!” Alex said, as he mounted to the deck, “and I’m glad we have gotten rid of King. Now for a trip up the river! Now for freedom from sleuths and mysteries!”