“Maybe,” admitted Grant. “It certainly is queer.”
The four boys stood amazed, too surprised by this sudden catastrophe at first to do anything. It seemed almost impossible to think that such a thing could be.
“Are you sure you went to the right place, Sam?” demanded Fred.
“Sho’ Ah is,” said Sam. “Dey is no doubt ob it.”
“Let’s all go and have a look,” George suggested.
“The first sensible idea yet, Pop,” exclaimed Grant. “Come on, everybody.”
Helter skelter and making as fast time as they could, the little party set out to retrace their steps to their landing place. Fear filled their hearts, not only on account of the disappearance of their boat, but also because there was the chance that some one else was on the island who might have stolen it. Not that the boys would not have been glad to see other people, but because they feared that the strangers might turn out to be enemies. Certainly, if they were friends, it seemed queer they should steal the boat.
It was not long before they came to the little harbor. Grant was the first to reach the water’s edge and he looked about him eagerly, for traces of the missing boat.
“Here’s where it was,” exclaimed Fred.
“There isn’t even a mark on the beach where it was pulled up,” said John. “That’s a queer thing it seems to me.”