what might have happened to him. To reach him
they would have to go far out of their way
through jungle growth next to the estate.
“And there’s a chance,” said George, “he’s in
trouble and might not even be where we left
him.”
“We’ll have to return to town and rent a boat,”
Nancy concluded.
The trio walked as fast as they could and made
their way to the main highway. Bess pointed out
that public transportation was infrequent along
this route.
“Last time I was here I thought the bus would
never come,” she said.
The girls waited impatiently for twenty min-
utes. They were almost in despair when Nancy
saw a familiar car headed in their direction.
“It’s Lieutenant Masters!” she cried, holding
up her hand to signal the officer.
The young woman stopped. “Hop in,” she in-
vited, and Nancy introduced her friends.
“Did you go to Heath Castle?” the officer asked.
“Yes,” Nancy said. “We found several good
leads. In fact, we were following one this morn-
ing. Salty came with us.”
“Salty?”
“He’s the singing clam digger of Muskoka
River,” Bess explained. “We left him on the
beach. He may be in the hands of the thieves by
now!”
Quickly Nancy explained the situation and
asked the officer if she could arrange to send out
a police boat to rescue Salty. “I’d like to go along
if they’ll let me,” Nancy added. “I’m worried and
feel responsible for him.”
“We’ll go too, if we may,” put in George.
Lieutenant Masters radioed headquarters. In
a few minutes she had arranged for the girls to
accompany the rescue party. “But be careful,” she
warned them. “Meanwhile, I’ll tell the chief to
search for Biggs and Cobb.”
On their way to the police dock. Lieutenant
Masters said that she had planned to stop at the
Drew home to discuss the problem of Joan Feni-
more and Teddy Hooper.
“I had hoped Joan wouldn’t play with Teddy
any more,” said Nancy.
“I’m inclined to think she may have tried not
to,” the officer said slowly, “but-well, here’s the
story. Teddy really causes me more worry than a
dozen other boys on my list. He hasn’t been to
school for three days. It does no good to talk to
his mother. She always sides with Teddy. I’m con-
vinced she’s unsuited to look after him.”
“I’ll say she is,” George burst out, and told
Lieutenant Masters about her stolen clothes.
“We’re sure he took them,” she concluded.
Nancy said, “He’s friendly with Biggs and
Cobb.” She explained about Teddy and the two
men at the castle.
The lieutenant listened seriously. “I’m afraid
the boy may be a thief,” she agreed. “This morn-
ing I caught him trying to sell a pearl at Weath-
erby’s curio shop. When I asked him where he
had gotten it, he refused to answer me. Maybe he
was the one who snatched your purse, Nancy.
Anyway, when I took him home, his mother said
she knew nothing about the pearl. Teddy finally
said that Joan Fenimore had given it to him, but
she denied this.”
“What a pity he’s involved her,” Nancy said.
“She’s too nice a child.”
A few minutes later Lieutenant Masters pulled
up to the dock, where two officers were waiting in
a motorboat.
The girls were introduced to Lieutenant Car-
ney, a stocky, muscular-looking man, and Officer
Mellon, who was tall and soft spoken.
The girls climbed aboard and the craft roared
off. In a short time they reached the Heath estate.
The rented motorboat was anchored in the same
spot but there was no sign of Salty and his row-
boat!
“He wouldn’t have had time to row home,”
Bess said, worried. “And we didn’t pass him on
the way.”
Lieutenant Carney cast anchor and everyone
waded ashore. They started an intensive hunt.
Before long George spotted the sailor lying mo-
tionless near the entrance to the cloister. She
gasped. But suddenly he sat up and looked at
her. “Thought ye’d never come,” he muttered.
There was blood on his face and shirt.
“Salty!” exclaimed Nancy, who had hurried
over. “You’re hurt!”
Her cry brought Lieutenant Carney on the
run. Salty stood up and insisted he was all right,