"Yep!" says I. "Me and Vee."
"Bully for you youngsters!" says he. "I might have known it would be you two who would find us."
"Verona, I am astonished," gasps Auntie.
"Yes, I thought you would be," says Vee. "What's the matter?"
"Matter!" snaps Auntie. "We're stuck in the mud, and have been for hours. Look out or you'll run aground, too."
But our boat wasn't half the size of theirs, and by polin' careful we got alongside.
My first move is to reach a handful of cigars to the boss.
"Heaven be praised!" says he, lightin' one up eager.
Meanwhile Vee is pourin' out some hot coffee from the picnic bottles. That and the sandwiches seemed to sort of soothe things all around, and we got a sketch of their troubles.
Just as Vee had suspected, Rupert had started out to show 'em the island where the treasure was. Oh, he was sure he could take 'em right to it.