“Don’t let that worry you for a little minute,” Billy broke in, with some excitement. “Dan’s got the plans of a boat right in his pocket now that will knock the eye out of any craft that will be on the ice _this_ winter.”
“I admire your slang!” exclaimed Lettie, with scorn.
“I bet I caught it from you,” returned Billy, ready to “scrap” on the instant.
“Be good! be good!” cried Mildred. “Oh, Dannie! you are overtaking that white boat.”
“That’s what we’re here for,” returned the older boy, who had been attending strictly to business since Spink had challenged them.
The _Fly-up-the-Creek_ was making good its name. They were rushing up the river at a terrific pace. The _White Albatross_, whenever she tacked, lost ground. And finally when they came to the lower end of Island Number One, she had to make a long leg towards the farther side of the river, and so get to the leeward of the island.
Billy was staring at the island all the time they were passing.
“What’s the matter, Billy?” demanded Lettie Parker. “What do you expect to see over yonder?”
“Billy’s looking for Robinson Crusoe,” chuckled Dan. “He believes there’s a fellow living over there.”
“Oh! you told us before,” cried Lettie. “And, do you know, I told father and he said Sheriff Kimball ought to know about that.”
“Not that poor dummy?” cried Billy. “There isn’t an ounce of harm in that fellow, I am sure.”
“No. About there being something buried on the island. I don’t know just what father meant. But you know, he is very friendly with the sheriff.”
“Say! we don’t want to get that poor chap into trouble,” Billy urged. “Just like a girl—telling everything she knows!”
Before Miss Parker could “flare up” at this statement and speak her mind, Mildred gave a little shriek.
“What’s the matter?” demanded Dan, flashing a look around, too.
“It’s Dummy!” yelled Billy, who was out on the crossbeam at his usual station and could see behind the bellowing sail.
There, upon a high rock on the shore of the island stood the figure of the boy Billy and Dan had knocked over in the snowstorm, weeks before. They could not be mistaken.
He was gazing across the end of the island toward the open ice on the far side. Suddenly he turned about and waved both arms madly at the _Fly-up-the-Creek_ and her crew. But although he opened his mouth and babbled something or other, neither the boys nor their guests could understand what he said.