The letter to Vernon was written and placed in a well-corked bottle to prevent its destruction.
This was tied around Bob's waist, and the boy lowered himself noiselessly into the water.
The Lively Bee was about half a mile from the Caroline, and Bob was not many minutes in covering the distance, for he was an expert swimmer.
The letter was read, and an answer prepared and placed in the bottle.
Once more Bob was in the water, but not swimming.
He lay on his back and floated, for he wanted to think.
Thinking, with him, was a difficult operation and required considerable scratching of his head.
To do this in the water was not the easiest thing, and Bob took longer than usual to think.
"He'd like to know how many guns that skunk has, would he? Well, I guess I can find out."
Bob arrived at this conclusion after five minutes' thought.