“Might as well laugh as cry,” was his comment on the situation.
At last they came to smoother ground, with the river showing under the setting sun, and paused to study the scene.
Directly their glances, following the windings of the stream, came upon the Esmeralda! They regarded each other with eyes which asked many questions but found no answer.
“How did that boat get here?” asked Alex. “We left her far up the river.”
“Don’t ask me!” was the reply.
“Well,” continued Alex, “it’s up to us to find out!”
The boat lay rocking in the river only a short distance from where the boys had halted. The prow light was on, and the craft gave other indications of occupancy, so the theory that she had broken loose and drifted to where she lay was not to be thought of.
The motor boat lay close to the right bank of the stream, and the question how she got there could not be easily answered, so the lads made haste to gain the little landing where she was tied.
The Rio Grande is a very shallow stream, often spreading out over a large stretch of country. Indeed, it is navigable for boats of medium size only below the city of Matamoros.
Therefore Alex and Jule were obliged to wade out to the boat when they came opposite her. Their first sight of the deck was rather a surprise.