“Oh, Dan,” Mr. Hatfield sighed. “How many times have I warned the Cubs always to pull a boat beyond reach of the waves?”
“But we did, sir! Someone deliberately set the dinghy loose.”
Mr. Hatfield braced himself as the launch swung sharply around a buoy which marked a river shoal.
“Your boat was set loose?” he demanded. “Are you sure, Dan?”
“Well, we found a man’s footprint in the sand. That boat couldn’t have broken away by itself.”
“We have an idea who did it,” Brad added.
“Let’s mention no names,” Mr. Hatfield said quickly. “That is, not unless you’re certain.”
Being unable to prove that it was Jabowski who had shoved their boat from the beach, Dan and Brad remained silent.
“I know you believe you were careful about the boat,” Mr. Hatfield said. “Perhaps you were. On the other hand, you might have been mistaken.”
“Hardly,” commented Brad in quick protest.