I said, “Why, then we’ll ask them to row us across keeping the boat close to the rope. They could never row straight across with the tide running this way.”
“I don’t see why the tide has to be running out just now,” Hunt said.
“Neither do I,” I said; “especially as it’s just going to turn around and come right in again. It might as well stay in. It goes to a lot of trouble for nothing. We should worry.”
Pretty soon the boat was nearly opposite us, and I shouted, “Hey, Mister, will you give us a lift across?”
Pee-wee whispered to me, “I know who that front man is; he’s a detective. You better look out how you speak to him. That’s Detective Pinchem.”
As soon as the kid spoke I saw that he was right. I shouted, “Hey, Mister Pinchem, will you give us a lift across? We’re lost, strayed or stranded.”
The men in the boat started for the shore and Mr. Pinchem called, “Hello, you scouts, what are you doing here?”
I said, “We’ve got as much right here as this river has. It’s in our way and we want to get across.”
