“They must know Jeff,” added Larry.
“I know how that fits,” Sandy spoke earnestly. “The hydroplane men were honest, and Jeff worked into their confidence and offered to help them—to discover the plan!”
“Well—that’s possible,” Larry admitted.
“We know what happened. Jeff signaled, but he knew the amphibian was coming, and the seaplane, to make sure neither would break down and leave him helpless—while he supervised,” Sandy had good going now, “the seaplane got the life preserver, and then Jeff decided that they might get away, tried to follow—and while the seaplane was flying, its passenger got the emeralds free of the life preserver, and then——”
“Now you’re stalled,” chuckled Dick, but Sandy was not defeated.
“The passenger, while they were high up, threw something and hit the pilot, the seaplane went out of control, the man jumped—and then cut free his parachute, cut the sack holding the emeralds, and hid in the swamp.”
“Why wouldn’t he take the rubber boat?”
“It would be missed, Larry. He was too bright for that.”
“How could he get away?”
“Why, Dick! Wait till everybody was gone, then take to the rubber boat, get himself picked up——”