“Why is it lucky for us?” demanded Jule, interrupting.
“Well,” Rube went on, “when you picked up Paul Stegman last night in the rain, and began talking about the Rambler and Captain Joe, I had you sized up. So when Buck came down the river in his motor boat, I got aboard, thinking you kids might need a little lookin’ after. Now you’ve got the whole story.”
“And so, without knowing it, we had a bodyguard from the time we rescued Paul from the river?” Case interrupted. “It was mighty good of you both.”
“I wonder how Paul is faring?” Clay suggested.
“Oh, the boat thieves probably threw him overboard,” Case declared. “I’d like to wring their necks!”
“Now,” Rube said, “I’ve got a hunch that you boys are able to look out for yourselves, so I’ll ride as far as the Rambler and quit you there. I have a little work to do for myself. If you are as level-headed in future as you have shown yourselves to be in the past, you won’t need any watching.”
“How do you know we’ll catch the Rambler?” asked Jule.
“I’m just supposing a case,” replied Rube with a grin.
“You just bet we’ll catch her!” Alex contributed. “And when we get her next time, we’ll keep her. This chasing after boats all the time ain’t what it’s cracked up to be.”
It was late in the afternoon when the Esmeralda got under way, just as Clay had planned. A close watch was kept on both shores as the boat proceeded downstream.