"Don't see it!" exclaimed Whopper, who was in the rear. "Why, it
must be here."

All came out on the edge of the river and gazed up and down the
shore in alarm. Not a sight of the boat was to be seen anywhere.

"Wonder if she floated off?" suggested Giant.

"She couldn't," answered Shep. "I tied her up, and did it good,
too. There is the exact spot," and he pointed out a stout bush.
In the dirt of the bank was the mark of the rowboat's sharp bow.

"Look there!" ejaculated Whopper. "See the size of those
footprints---as big as canal-boats. Do you know what I think?" he
almost shouted.

"That nigger ran off with our boat!" came in a chorus from the others.

"That's it. See, there is where he came along the shore. He
meant to hide here, when he came across the boat. He saw it was
well filled with things and jumped in, and I suppose he rowed
off as fast as he could," added Whopper, bitterly. "Oh, wouldn't
I like to catch him! I'd make mince-meat of him, I would!"

Whopper stopped short, and all of the boys looked at each other
blankly. For some seconds nobody spoke, but each was busy with
his thoughts.

"If we can't find the boat-----" began Snap.