“Then what are you going to do with us?” Penny demanded.
Apparently, the waiter did not himself know. While he guarded the girls, he cast a quick glance toward the ark. Just then running footsteps were heard in the woods, and someone whistled twice. The waiter answered the signal. A moment later, Carl Oaks, quite winded, came into view.
“So you got ’em, eh?” he demanded with pleasure.
“The question is what to do with them.”
“I don’t want ’em at the shack,” the old watchman complained. “When young Ottman comes around I may have my hands full with him.”
“This ark should serve my purpose,” the waiter muttered. “The old coot that lives here has gone off somewhere. Oaks, get aboard and look around.”
“There’s no way to cross to it,” the watchman said helplessly.
“Find the gangplank!” his companion ordered irritably. “It must be hidden somewhere in the bushes.”
Thus urged, Oaks searched along the river bank and soon came upon the missing plank. Fitting it into place, he quickly crossed to the ark. A dog started to bark, but the sound was choked off.
“Well?” called the waiter impatiently.