The professor’s belief was destined to remain unannounced, for at that instant there sounded a cry over the water.
“Those are girls’ voices!” remarked Jerry, springing to his feet.
Once more over the water sounded the cry for help. It was evident that several persons were calling and, as the boys and the professor listened, they found that the appeal came from around a point of land that jutted out into the lake from the floating island, not far from the camp.
“Get into the boat!” called Ned to Jerry, as the latter hurried down to the shore. “We’ll find ’em.”
The two were soon in the _Dartaway_ and the engine was started. As the motor craft moved out of the little cove in front of camp the boys saw before them three girls in a boat.
“We’ve caught a big fish and it’s towing the boat!”
“More likely an alligator!” exclaimed Ned. “Put a little more speed on, Jerry. Why, if they aren’t Mr. Seabury’s daughters! The houseboat must be nearby!”
“Sure enough!” answered Jerry. “That’s good news. We can get some medicine for Bob now.”
Though the rowboat was moving at good speed the _Dartaway_ soon caught up to it. Ned and Jerry saw three very much frightened girls who waved their hands to them as the boys approached.
“They’re from the _Dartaway_!” cried Rose. “I’m so glad to see them!”
“Quick!” exclaimed Olivia. “Something has been towing us for an hour!”
“What is it?” asked Ned, as he tried to peer beneath the water.
“Oh, a terrible big fish,” answered Nellie.
In a few moments the rowboat was fast to the motor craft and the smaller one came to a stop. Then there was a flurry in the water just ahead, and an ugly black snout was thrust up.
“An alligator!” exclaimed Jerry. He grabbed for his gun and sent a bullet into the saurian. A greater commotion beneath the surface of the lake, which was tinged with red, showed that the leaden missile had gone home.
“Yes, but it wasn’t much of a kill,” responded his chum as the alligator came to the surface, disclosing the fact that it was a small one, only about five feet long. “Regular baby. How did you girls come to get fast to it?”
“We didn’t. It got fast to us,” replied Olivia. “Rose had baited a big hook on a stout line, expecting to catch a shark I guess. We laughed at her but she said she’d catch something with it.”