"We shall all have to leave now," said Jack. "Father Martin is going
to drill the cadets for a short time in the early part of the
afternoon."
"What arrangements have you made for fastening your boat?" asked Uncle
Gerald. "To guard against its being tampered with by meddlesome
persons, as well as to prevent its drifting away, you ought to secure
it to a stake near the bank by means of a padlock."
"We forgot to get one," returned Jack. "No one will touch it here.
I'll tie it to a tree with this piece of rope, so that it won't go
floating off on an exploring expedition on its own account."
The next day was Sunday, and the boys had no chance to use the boat
again until Monday after school. When they hurried to the spot where
it had been moored, alas! the _Jolly Pioneer_ was nowhere to be seen.
"Do you think she broke away?" asked Leo.
"Pshaw! The _Jolly Pioneer_ isn't a pony!" impatiently answered Jack.
"But the rope might have snapped," said Jim.
"No: the boat has been stolen," muttered Bob, gloomily.
"I don't believe that," continued Jim. "Perhaps some of the fellows
around have hidden her, just to plague us.
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