Page:Boys of Columbia High on the River.djvu/55

Rh the railroad station. I want to ask you something about that boat," came over the wire.

"Yes, what about it, Mr. Brierly?" queried the boy, eagerly, for he had just been about to hurry down to superintend the removal of that precious shell to the river, so that the coach could put the crew through a severe trial that morning in the boat that was take the place of the discarded one.

"Why, it's gone, and I have called you up to ask if some of you boys carried it away in the night; because you see, I'm responsible for that boat, and if anything happened to it I might get in a peck of trouble," came the reply.

Frank shook as he held the receiver closer.

"What do you mean, Mr. Brierly—the boat was there last evening all right, for one of my chums saw it? Do you intend to say that it has been taken away during the night, sir?" he demanded, anxiously.

"That's just what I'm saying. It was gone when I came here just now, and nobody knows a thing about it—crate and all disappeared in a mighty mysterious way. If some of your boys carried it off I'd like to know it right away. They'll have to sign a receipt for it."

"Wait a minute, Mr. Brierly; I'll get the boat-house and ask. Some of them are sure to be down there, even if it is early."