“Say, when you two fellows get through chinning, I wish you’d pass me down the box of hooks. I want to put on a smaller one,” observed Cap, who was getting his line ready. As he spoke he looked down into the bottom of the boat, and asked:
“Who’s been eating crackers here?”
“Crackers? Nobody,” answered Bill. “Why?”
“Because there are a lot of cracker crumbs or bread crumbs under the seat here, and—”
Cap gave a sudden start, and looked toward shore. There was a slight movement in the bushes, and Beantoe and Spider who had been peering eagerly out, withdrew their heads into the shrubbery.
“The water must be coming in now!” exulted Spider.
“Sure!” agreed his crony.
Cap was anxiously staring at the bottom of the boat. He put his finger on a certain spot. The finger nearly went through a soft place, and a second later some water began trickling in.
“By crimps! I’m on to their game!” cried Cap. “Quick, fellows! Those cork floats from the box! Stuff ’em in the holes!”
“What holes?” demanded Bill, removing his thumb from his mouth that he might speak the more plainly.