“I don’t believe he was run into,” protested Nelson.
“I know you don’t; you said so before,” Dan replied. “But if it wasn’t that, what was it? Where’s he got to and why is the boat full of water?”
“I don’t know, but there are lots of things that might have happened.”
“Such as what, Mr. Solomon?”
“Well, he might have gone ashore for more bait and left the tender on the beach. Then the tide floated it out while he was gone. When he came back and saw that he couldn’t get it he decided to walk to town in hopes of finding us before we left.”
“Well, that might be it,” acknowledged Bob after a moment’s consideration of the theory, “but somehow I can’t make myself think so. If you’re right then he’s waiting for us in the village.”
“And maybe the officer fellow has him,” added Dan.
“Hold on!” protested Tom. “That’s all ru-ru-right, but how did the boat get full of water?”
Nelson looked nonplused.
“It might have gone floating around and hit against something,” he finally ventured, “maybe a rock or a submerged log.”