"Well, I asked Jim Peters if he had sawed 'em, and he said--but then
you can't never believe Jim."

"What did he say?" excitedly demanded Cora, as Bess and Belle
stepped up to where she was talking.

"He said they had tied their boat up at the far dock, and had gone
on the shore train to the merry-go-'round."

"But they were in their bathing suits!" exclaimed Cora.

"There! Didn't I tell you not to take any stock in Jim's news! I
knowed he was fibbin'. But--say miss. There's this about Jim. He
don't ever take the trouble to make up a yam unless he has a motive.
Now I'll bet Jim knows something about them lads."

"Where does this man live?" asked Cora.

"He don't live no place in particular, but in general he stays at
the shanty, when he ain't on the water. But he's a regular fish.
The young 'uns calls him a fish hawk."

"How could we get to his place? Do you think he is at the shanty
now?" went on Cora, determined to find out something of the man, for
she had reason to believe that the dock-hand knew what he was
talking about.

"Bless you, child! It ain't no place for young girls like you to go
to any time, much less at night. But I'll tell you what I'll do.