At last Madge gave in to her wishes although she was a little afraid that Rex had not had sufficient time to return home for his amphibian. They went to the cabin for the Zudi Drum. She held her breath as Enid picked it up. However, she appeared to notice nothing amiss and stowed it away in the motor boat.
“Are you sure you know the way, Enid?”
“Yes, it’s a treacherous channel but I’m confident I’ll have no trouble. All set?”
Madge nodded and glanced anxiously toward shore. The night was darker than she had anticipated. She wondered if Rex could see their pilot light.
Enid started the motor and they swung slowly away from The Flora. For a time the little boat plowed steadily through the water, keeping close to shore. Then Enid headed out toward a group of small islands. After she had passed them she was less sure of the course, and slackened her speed that she might watch for buoys.
“We must keep an eye out for Clingman’s Rock,” she warned. “It’s submerged except at low tide.”
The channel was narrow and intricate. Few boats ventured near Cedar Point and Enid had never made the trip at night. She became somewhat troubled as they failed to pass a marker she had anticipated.
“I’m sure we haven’t passed the rock yet,” she said, “but I’m not very confident of my bearings.”
Both girls were now alert and anxious. They strained eyes and ears for a warning of the danger that lay before them. Suddenly, Madge straightened.
“I hear something, Enid. It’s a bell.”