This he handed over to the two loggers, calling upon the others to witness the transaction, for he might want to prove it later on.
After that the boys began to think of returning up the river, and reaching their camp on Bedloe’s Island. Algernon concluded that, since his boat was in fair running order, and he had the chance to elude the other “chappie,” with whom he was playing a game of hide-and-seek while on the way to St. Louis, he had better take advantage of the opportunity, and keep right on down-stream.
Jack and his chums promised to care for what Algernon had left behind; and on the way up later he would drop in at the island to recover the same. If the motor boat boys were not in camp, having departed for home, he promised to see them there.
And so Jenks having gone aboard and started the engine, the Saunterer glided off down the Mississippi, Algernon shaking hands with each of the others in turn, and declaring that it had all been the greatest bit of excitement he had ever experienced; a remark, which caused Jack’s crowd to grin, for, as we happen to know, the boys had been through some remarkable events in their time.
The three boats were soon on their way up river; and reached the island before dawn. It was a pretty tired lot that crept into the tent, and slept for several hours. And later in the day Jack told them that in consideration of the forlorn condition which he knew the good people of Lawrence must be in, he would have to take a run over to a town which lay about eight miles above. Here he could send the precious bag and its contents, securely wrapped and sealed, by express; and at the same time dispatch a long message at night rates that would tell the directors of the stricken bank how all their valuable papers as well as the money that had been taken were on the way to them, particularly later when the motor boat boys got back from their little cruise down the Mississippi.
To this message Jack signed the names of the whole six chums, his own last of all. Then he and Josh managed to get back to the island before evening set in; and a great load had been taken from Jack’s mind, when he no longer had to worry about that bag containing nearly all of the visible assets of the plundered Lawrence bank.
[CHAPTER XXIV]
CONCLUSION
“What’s all this fuss going on out here?” demanded Josh Purdue, as he came crawling from under the folds of the tent.