Part 16 (1/2)
”The paddle should be here,” Red said doggedly. ”How'd it get away?”
”It probably floated off,” Brad answered. ”The waves pound up here whenever a big cruiser pa.s.ses.”
”Well, if the paddle floated off, it can't be far away,” Red declared.
”That's so,” agreed Brad. He turned to Dan. ”Let's go after it!”
”Afoot?”
”Not much chance of trailing it that way. Maybe Mr. Hatfield will let us take the canoe.”
Brad had observed that the Cub leader already was paddling toward sh.o.r.e with long, sure strokes.
The two Cubs went down to the water's edge to meet him. Quickly, Brad explained what had happened. As they had expected, Mr. Hatfield showed immediate concern.
”We can't afford to lose another paddle,” he said. ”We'll have to find this one, that's all.”
Motioning for Brad and Dan to exchange places with Fred and Midge, he pointed the canoe down stream.
For the next twenty minutes, the three searched every cove and back-water along the sh.o.r.e. The lost paddle could not be found.
”It beats all what could have happened to it,” Brad said, resting a moment. ”You didn't see anyone in camp while we were out on the river, did you, Dan?”
”Not on the beach,” the younger boy answered slowly. ”I did see someone watching me from the woods-an Indian, I think.”
”I guess it's no use looking any farther for the paddle.”
”Wait. Let's not give up just yet,” Mr. Hatfield said unexpectedly. He had been studying the swift river current with deep absorption. ”Maybe an Indian stole our paddle, but I doubt it. Notice how fast this water moves?”
”Only one little ribbon of it,” Brad replied. ”I discovered that the other day. This old river must have a lot of currents.”
Mr. Hatfield nodded. ”On your toes, boys,” he said. ”I'm going to try an experiment.”
”What are you going to do?” Brad asked, puzzled.
Without answering, Mr. Hatfield deliberately dropped his paddle into the river.
CHAPTER 10 AN UNDERGROUND STREAM
Brad and Dan watched in fascination as the paddle drifted away from the canoe.
At first it moved very slowly, then faster and faster.
Brad noted instantly that the paddle seemed to travel downstream much faster than the canoe and also at a quicker pace than other drifting objects nearby.
”It's caught in an especially swift current!” he exclaimed. ”I wonder what causes that fast water? An underground stream emptying into the river?”
”I've wondered myself,” Mr. Hatfield declared, keeping close watch of the drifting paddle. ”Some time ago, Mr. Holloway pointed out to me that a fast current less than twelve feet wide moves along sh.o.r.e for a considerable distance. We never took time to trace it down or discover its origin.”