self and her mother. Wishing to spare Mrs. Feni-
more any further worry, they refrained from dis-
cussing the child’s thieving instincts in depth.
As they drove away. Nancy remarked, “It’s pos-
sible Juliana met with foul play.”
“Yes,” said Lieutenant Masters. “If that’s true,
you may find yourself up against a dangerous ad-
versary.”
When the two young women walked into head-
quarters a little later, the desk sergeant said,
“You’re in luck. Miss Drew!” He held up her
stolen purse. “A patrolman found it in a trash
(an. Nothing but the money and the pearl was
taken.”
Nancy was thrilled. “I’m especially glad to have
roy driver’s license and car registration back,”
she said, “and the credit cards. Please thank the
patrolman for me.”
The following day Nancy related Mrs. Feni-
more’s story to her closest friends, Bess Marvin
and George Fayne, who had dropped in. The two
girls were cousins and helped Nancy when she was
working on a mystery. Bess was blond and slightly
plump. She was less inclined toward adventure
than her spunky cousin, an attractive brunette,
who liked athletics and was proud of having a
boy’s name.
Bess said soberly, “It’s a shame about Joan and
Teddy. I’ll help you all I can with them.”
George was eager to pursue work on the mys-
tery. “What are we waiting for?” she asked. “Why
not go now and explore the castle?”
Cautiously Bess asked, “Will it be safe?”
“It won’t be easy,” Nancy warned her friends.
“I was told the undergrowth is like a jungle.
Maybe the best way to get there is by motorboat
up the Muskoka River.”
Twenty minutes later the three girls rented
a small motorboat at Campbell’s Landing. The
craft was old and the engine clattered and threw
oil, but it was the only boat available.
“Lucky we all know how to swim,” Bess said
with some misgiving as they pulled away from the
dock. “I have a feeling this old tub leaks and may
sink before we go very far.”
“We’ll be all right if George keeps busy with
the bailer!” Nancy laughed, heading the craft up-
stream.
The river was wide near town, but the upper
reaches were narrow and twisted and turned at
such sharp angles that fast travel was out of the
question. At the wheel. Nancy kept an alert
watch for shoals. Water was slowly seeping in at
the bow.
“It’s really pretty out here, but so wild.” Bess
commented, her gaze wandering along the solid
line of trees fringing the shores.
“Better forget the scenery for a while,” Nancy
advised, “and give George a hand with the bail-
ing. If you don’t, our shoes will be soaked.”
The water was coming in faster now. Both Bess
and George worked vigorously, dipping the water
and throwing it over the side.
“Listen!” Nancy said presently. “What’s that?”
Bess and George stopped bailing to look
around. They had heard no unusual sound.
“Another boat!” Nancy exclaimed as the noise
of an engine grew louder. “But where is it?”
Just then a small blue-and-white craft shot into
view from Harper’s Inlet, one of the river’s many
small hidden bays.
“Look out!” Bess cried in alarm.
The pilot in the oncoming boat seemed to be
unaware of the girls in their little craft. At high
speed he raced straight toward it. Desperately
Nancy spun the wheel. There was not enough
space to clear.
With a splintering crash the two boats collided!
CHAPTER III
A Runaway Boat
The speeding boat which had struck the girls’
craft now veered sharply away and raced down-
stream.
Meanwhile, the impact had caused Bess to lose
her balance. She hit her head on the side of the
boat and toppled into the water.
Instantly Nancy turned off the motor. If Bess
were unconscious, there was no time to lose!
George had already dived over the side. When
she located her cousin, she grasped the inert
form with her left arm and struck out with the
other for the boat. Nancy leaned over and helped
pull the unconscious Bess aboard.
“Is she-?” Nancy began.
At that moment Bess opened her eyes and
coughed several times. Nancy patted her on the