Part 9 (1/2)
Unfortunately, things were so much behind at the farm that Johnny could not be spared to accompany them. Elmer had hinted at this, not because he feared his own ability to get around, but because Johnny's being along would save them much precious time.
When the scout leader had soaked in all possible information the bound boy was capable of delivering, he believed he was in a fair way to master the situation. If Hen and his unknown captor were still hiding anywhere in the big swamp, Elmer fancied they could be found. What was going to happen after that event came about, of course, he could not say just then.
They made their way along for some distance until near the place where the three flat-bottomed skiffs were kept tied up. It was here that Johnny made a sudden discovery that gave them all a little thrill.
CHAPTER VII
THE MISSING SKIFF
”Well, I swan!” was the sudden exclamation that broke from the lips of Johnny Spreen, the farmer's bound boy, as he came to a halt.
Elmer, glancing hastily at him, saw the boy rubbing his eyes in a somewhat dazed fas.h.i.+on. He acted for all the world like a fellow who did not feel sure that his sight was as good as usual. Something evidently was amiss.
”What is it?” demanded Lil Artha, in his usual impetuous way.
”The boats!” muttered Johnny Spreen.
”Sure thing, we see 'em!” declared the tall scout.
”How many kin yuh count, tell me?” asked the other, beseechingly, still giving an occasional dab at his eyes, as though doubts clung to his mind regarding their faithfulness.
”Why, let's see, I glimpse three--no, there are only two skiffs afloating in that little bayou,” Lil Artha told him.
”Only two, air yuh dead sartin?” continued Johnny.
”That's correct, two boats and no more. I c'n see each one as clear as anything. Why, what difference does that make, Johnny?” asked Toby.
”But ther ought tuh be _three_, I tells yuh,” insisted the bound boy; ”wun two-year old, another built larst season, and the last un just this Spring. Yessir, three on 'em in all.”
”Well, I gueth your old boat took a notion to go to the bottom then, Johnny,” a.s.serted Ted, ”becauth there are only a pair floating there, I give you my word.”
”They was every wun thar yist'day,” persisted Johnny.
”Are you sure of that?” Elmer asked him.
”Well, my name's Johnny Spreen, ain't it?” demanded the other, grimly; ”I'm workin' out my time with Mister Trotter hyar, ain't I? Then I still got two eyes, and I ain't turned loony yit by a long shot. I tell yuh, Elmer, I handled three skiffs yist'day--seen as they was tied securely. And now yuh tells me they be but two.”
”Yes, that's a fact,” the patrol leader a.s.sured him.
”All right then, they gut one, thet's boz.”
Elmer expected some such result as this, so after all he did not seem to be very much staggered.
”I suppose by 'them' you mean the chicken thieves, Johnny?” he remarked.
”No other.”
”But if the man has been moving around in the swamp for a couple of weeks, more or less, could he do without a boat all that time?”