"
A mile or so further on, as we swings wide around the end of an island
where a shoal sticks out, we comes in sight of this big motor-boat
lyin' quiet a couple of hundred feet off-shore with three people in it.
"There they are, thank goodness!" says Vee, shuttin' off the engine and
lettin' the boat drift in towards 'em slow.
"Hello, there!" I calls out.
"That you, Torchy?" asks Old Hickory, anxious.
"Yep!" says I. "Me and Vee."
"Bully for you youngsters!" says he. "I might have known it would be
you two who would find us."
"Verona, I am astonished," gasps Auntie.
"Yes, I thought you would be," says Vee. "What's the matter?"
"Matter!" snaps Auntie. "We're stuck in the mud, and have been for
hours. Look out or you'll run aground, too."
But our boat wasn't half the size of theirs, and by polin' careful we
got alongside.
My first move is to reach a handful of cigars to the boss.
"Heaven be praised!" says he, lightin' one up eager.
Meanwhile Vee is pourin' out some hot coffee from the picnic bottles.
That and the sandwiches seemed to sort of soothe things all around, and
we got a sketch of their troubles.
Just as Vee had suspected, Rupert had started out to show 'em the
island where the treasure was.
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