human
What have you found, girls? demanded Lance Darby, whose boat was nearest to the twins' canoe at the moment.
gpt
Is there some deep sea monster down there?
human
Come and look, Lance,
gpt
Here it is, by gracious!
human
Here is what?
gpt
The boat. Hey, Chet! we've found it!
human
What you found?
gpt
Here's Mr. Norman's boat that he lent Short and Long, declared Lance, eagerly.
human
It was just as you said, Chet. Billy came over here to the island.
gpt
Oh, my! cried Jess.
human
And if that is so, perhaps he is still here.
gpt
We must find him, said one of the twins, earnestly.
human
His sister Alice is just about worried to death about him; and the longer he remains in hiding, the worse it will be for him, anyway.
gpt
Are you sure that's the old rowboat Billy got from Mr. Norman?
human
Yes, sir! I've been out in it more than once with Short and Long,
gpt
But where can Billy be?
human
Surely, the poor fellow isn't drowned?
gpt
Oh, don't suggest such a thing! returned one of the twins.
human
If you'd seen how badly his sister felt about his absence----
gpt
I expect the Longs are all broken up about it. And they have no mother,
human
And Billy could swim like a fish,
gpt
No chance of his being drowned,
human
But, do you suppose he sank the boat here to hide it--sank it purposely? cried another girl.
gpt
Maybe he's hiding here. Why don't they search the island for him?
human
And the caves?
gpt
Chetwood Belding said, gravely.
human
But Billy never in this world crawled through that basement window and opened the door for those burglars. I'll never believe it----
gpt
Not even if Billy said so himself, dear boy?
human
I'd doubt it then, rejoined Chet, grimly.
gpt
And let me tell you fellows, this absence of Short and Long is a very bad thing for Central High. We lost the game with Lumberport just because Billy wasn't at short; you all know that. I'm mighty glad the game with West High was called off for to-day. Without Billy Long, Central High is very likely to win the booby prize on the diamond this season.
human
Right you are, Chet,
gpt
I admit Billy is some little ball player, agreed another boy.
human
But it looks bad, his running away.
gpt
What would _you_ have done? flashed out Dora Lockwood, for the twins had become strong partisans of the absent Billy since talking with Alice Long,
human
Put him through the third degree, did he?
gpt
Yes. And scared him by all sorts of threats. And then, everybody around the neighborhood got hold of it, and said that Billy was just the boy to do such a thing,
human
He _was_ up to all sorts of mischief,
gpt
Never did a mean thing in his life, Billy didn't,
human
Come on ashore, said Lance, he and Otto Sitz pulling their heavy boat in to a sloping landing.
gpt
No use gassing here about that old boat. We can't raise it. But I'll tell Mr. Norman where it is when I go back.
human
You're very right, Lance, said Purt Sweet.
gpt
It's time to have the luncheon--don't you think? I'm getting howwibly hungry, dontcher know?
human
To see you eat strawberries up at Eve's house last Monday, I thought you would never be hungry again--if you recovered,
gpt
Aw--now--Miss Josephine--weally, you know, gasped the dude.
human
You are too, too cwuel!
gpt
Somebody throw that fellow overboard! growled Chet.
human
He's getting softer and softer every day.
gpt
Never mind, whispered his sister, laughing,
human
Gee, Laura! cried Bobby Hargrew, from the next boat,
gpt
Never mind Mammy Jinny, laughed Laura.
human
We've got some of Mammy's finest efforts in pie and cake in our hamper. And I admit, like Purt, I am hungry myself. Let's eat before we do another living thing!