“It’s half full of water,� said Nick.
“Help me to turn it over,� shouted Patsy; and the water was soon emptied from the boat which was found to be quite sound.
“There are no oars,â€� said Patsy, when that was done. “We’ll have to—wait a minute.â€�
He darted away toward the boathouse on the shore, a few rods distant, broke the padlock with a stone, and presently returned bearing a pair of oars.
“All aboard,� he said. “If I was as certain of future glory as I am of finding our goal out there, I’d be wearing a halo already, chief.�
“I only hope that you are right, Patsy,� was the reply. “Be silent now. There is need of caution if they are there.�
Five minutes’ cautious rowing took them the required distance, and the small boat was rounded up alongside the larger one without a sound to disturb anybody who might be on board, and perhaps watchful.
But we already know what was taking place inside that house boat.
Nick Carter, followed by his two assistants, clambered aboard of it, as it happened, just at the moment when Carleton Lynne put out one foot and tripped Red Mike so that he fell prone upon his face at the feet of Madge.
There was a perceptible jar as the result of that fall, for Red Mike was a heavy man.