“After him!” exclaimed Frank, as he also sprang to his feet.
“Stop the scoundrel!” echoed Will, a bit slower at getting in motion.
Of course Frank never once dreamed that it could be any other than one of the two hoboes. They needed various things, and a boat might be among the number, although evidently they must have had a craft of some sort in order to reach the island in the beginning.
The moon was half hidden among a few floating clouds that hung close to the horizon, but gave plenty of light for them to see what was going on. The bold thief must have been prowling around in the vicinity of the camp, trying to get a chance to make way with something.
Even as they looked he was shoving the canoe in the water. Then he tumbled into it rather awkwardly, which was a pretty good sign that he knew little about balancing in one of the cranky little craft.
“Where are the other boats—get the key to unlock them!” exclaimed Frank.
“I’ve got it right here—this way, fellows!” echoed Bluff.
He was already bending over the bunch of boats consisting of the mate to the stolen craft and the big double canoe.
Frank snatched up a paddle and bounded over to where his comrades knelt. As soon as Bluff threw the chain aside the other snatched up the single canoe, rushed straight to the water’s edge and launched it. All this had taken but a comparatively few seconds to transpire. Indeed, the thief was not fifty feet away at the time Frank threw himself into the other craft.
Bluff and Will drew up on the edge of the water.