Part 29 (2/2)
”Yes, sir, I did,” replied Sam.
”What was he doing?” inquired John.
”I saw a skiff headed for Alexandria Bay.”
”How many were in it?”
”Two men.”
”What were they doing?”
”The last I saw of them they were pulling as if for dear life. That was why I couldn't catch them.”
”And you think they were here on our dock?”
”I do,” explained Sam promptly. ”I saw one man on the dock. Probably the other was in the skiff.”
”What were they doing?”
”Nothing when I first saw them. They were just getting ready to do it.”
”Do what?” demanded George.
”I guess it's time for you boys to go back to your beds,” said Sam after a brief silence. ”If you can't tell, then I'm not going to explain.”
”Tell us, Sam, just what happened,” pleaded Fred.
For a moment the man was silent and then as if thinking better of his resolution, he said, ”The fact is, boys, there was some one in the boat-house. I was sure of it though I couldn't see any one. I heard him moving around and when I came out on the dock there I saw him just as plain as day. Just about that time he saw me too, and that was the first I knew that there were two of them, one in the skiff and one on the dock.”
”Were they near the Black Growler?” inquired Fred, who was keenly aroused by the story Sam was telling.
”They couldn't have been nearer,” declared Sam, ”but when they saw me, they started out as if the evil one was after them.”
”I don't wonder,” suggested George.
”Huh?” said Sam quickly. ”What's that you say?”
”I think it would scare anybody if he thought you were trying to catch him,” said George glibly.
Mollified by the explanation, Sam continued, ”They lighted out as soon as they both were in the skiff and the way they rowed was something marvelous. I chased them around the point, but if you'll believe me when I got there they were already more than half-way to Alexandria Bay.”
”They must have traveled fast,” laughed John.
”They didn't delay any, let me tell you,” said Sam, shaking his head.
”And they had good reason to hurry up.”
”Was anything wrong with the boat?” asked Fred.
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