“Jerry, you must be watching the wrong boat.”
Jerry shook his head as he drove the car into the bushes at the side of the road. “It’s the right one, I’m sure of it. Well, we’re here.”
Penny was hard pressed to keep up as the reporter led her through the trees down to the winding Kobalt river. They found Salt in his hiding place, behind a large boulder.
“Anything happen since I left?” Jerry demanded.
Salt scarcely noticed Penny’s presence save to give her a quick nod of welcome.
“You got back just in time,” he replied to the question. “The girl went away a minute ago. Took a basket and started for the store.”
“Then why are we waiting?” asked Jerry. “Come on, we’ll take a look inside that boat.”
“Someone ought to stay here and keep watch,” Salt returned. “She may come back any minute.”
“You’re elected guard then. Penny and I will look the boat over and see what we can find. If the girl starts back, whistle.”
Darting across the muddy shore, Penny and Jerry reached the dilapidated boat which had been tied up at the end of a sagging dock. They jumped aboard and after a hasty glance over the deck, dived down into the cabin.