When his friends returned the strange man had not come back.
"Did anything happen?" inquired Fred eagerly as he stepped on
board.
"What did you think was going to happen?" answered George
somewhat evasively.
"I didn't think anything was," laughed Fred. "Sam is the only one
who is worried."
"Well, he has some right to be worried, I guess," said George
slowly.
"Why, what's wrong? What happened?" demanded Fred excitedly.
"Are you ready to explain what you did with that bond that
belongs to the Go Ahead boys?" asked George slowly.
"No, sir, I'm not."
"Then you'll not be interested in the fact that the man who
wanted it came down here to the dock while you were gone."
"He did? He did?" exclaimed Fred so eagerly that his friends all
laughed. "What did he want?"
"That, sir, I can't explain to you at this time," answered
George, striving to mimic the tones and manner of his friend.
"It's difficult for me to tell the whole story unless I know what
you all have to say."
"I have nothing to say," retorted Fred.
"Neither have I," responded George glibly.
Meanwhile Sam had cast off and with his boat-hook had pushed the
Black Growler out into the stream. The graceful lines of the
motor-boat were more distinctly seen now and the enthusiasm of
the spectators was somewhat noisily expressed.
At that moment, however, the Varmint II came sweeping in a great
semi-circle toward the dock and the attention of the assembly was
quickly divided.
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