The carpenter pushed back his old felt hat and rubbed his bald head reflectively.
“Well, I’m pretty busy right now, but I’ll do my best. Got any oakum, cap’n?”
The gasoline man went in search of some and when he returned the holes were temporarily stopped up and the carpenter ambled off for his dory. The others carried the tender down to the water and towed her around to the end of the float. Presently the carpenter returned in a disreputable tub of a dory and the tender was towed away. The gasoline man, who had given them the pleasure of his company continuously since the tender was examined, finally took himself off to carry gasoline to a small launch which had puffed up to the float, and the Four seated themselves in the cockpit and looked inquiringly from one to another.
“It’s mighty funny,” said Dan.
“The mystery deepens,” said Tom excitedly.
“It certainly does,” agreed Bob, “eh, Nel?”
“I think the mystery is explained,” Nelson replied quietly.
“The dickens you do!” exclaimed Dan. “What’s the explanation?”
“The boat hook.”
“Boat hook? What boat hook?” asked Bob impatiently.