Page:Boys of Columbia High on the River.djvu/65

Rh it proves to be so, all the credit for finding the boat belongs to Minnie," he said, cheerfully.

"Well, I'm sure I'm glad to hear you speak so confidently. Why are you looking at that building so hard, Frank; do you really believe they could have put your new shell in there. Would it go through that doorway? demanded the one who had found the bit of green burlap.

"I don't just know; perhaps so. Anyhow it's up to me to see!" cried Frank.

"Then we're going in with you," declared Helen, firmly.

"All right; come along, girls," and Frank led the way, quivering with eagerness; for something told him that he must be near a discovery that would bring to naught this miserable scheme of the unknown enemy to upset Columbia's calculations.

But when they pasedpassed [sic] in through the doorway to find some of the masons and carpenters gathering to go to work at the union hour, Frank looked in vain for any sign of the coveted shell.

"Perhaps they've hidden it somewhere in here?" suggested Minnie, while Helen looked around blankly at the bare space; she had seen the tremendous length of the crated shell, and realized that it could not well be concealed in any small cavity.

A man was descending a series of ladders that led