The day wore on, and though they stopped at several other towns, in a search for Charlie’s mother, their quest was unsuccessful. Nor was anything heard of the missing players.
“Well, I guess we’ll have to look for another stopping place for the night,” remarked Mr. Ringold, late that afternoon. He was about to turn the wheel over to Joe, for a rest, when Blake, who was in the extreme bow, cried out:
“Quick! Put her over! We’re going to ram a barn!”
CHAPTER XIV
FIRE AND FLOOD
For a moment Joe and Mr. Ringold did not know whether or not Blake was joking. But the lad in the bow cried again:
“Steer to the right, or you’ll be into the barn, sure! It’s directly in our course!”
And then Blake, springing back out of the front of the boat, gave his chum and the manager a clear view ahead, for he had been rather obstructing their vision. The two at the wheel saw a small barn, swirling around in the water. It was upright, and was directly in their path.
With a quick spin of the wheel Joe turned the rudder, and the Clytie glided past the barn, her rub-streak fairly grazing the structure. The barn had been hidden from view by a large tree which had drifted down with it, and the sudden separation of the foliage and the farm structure, revealed the latter to Blake just in time.
Then, as the motor boat swept on, there came from the interior of the barn a loud:
“Moo!”