The lad turned his head in order to get a good view of his questioner before making any reply whatever. Under the searchlights his face seemed beaten to a pulp.
Then Alex remembered that the boy had not regained consciousness at the time of their departure, and hastened to make the proper explanation. The boy again attempted a sitting posture and again failed.
Case knelt by the side of the wounded boy.
“Do you wish to say something?” he asked.
“Ask him where Clay went,” suggested Alex, keeping the baby bear in his arms.
“I don’t know,” replied the boy, answering the question asked by Alex. “When I came to consciousness there was a white bulldog drawing me out of the river.”
“And is that the last you remember?” questioned Case.
“Yes.”
“And so Captain Joe fished you out of the drink. Where did he go after that?”
“I did not see him go anywhere. I fainted, I guess.”