The Secret at the Seashore by Laura Lee Hope

Author:Laura Lee Hope [Hope, Laura Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Childrens, Classics
ISBN: 9780448437545
Amazon: 0448437546
Goodreads: 399592
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
Published: 1907-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Hal beached his canoe next to the outboard motor covered wagon

“Heap big chief scalp little girl!” Bert shouted and grabbed Flossie’s yellow curls. Flossie screamed in pretended terror.

The boys started off in the canoe with Hal and Bert at the paddles. The girls followed in the boat.

When they arrived at the lagoon, it was packed with boats and children in costume. Hal and Dorothy tied up their craft, and the children all jumped out onto the little dock.

Cindy Weller was waiting for them. “Oh, you all look so nice,” she said, then explained, “You have to go up to that desk and register.”

“Is there any news about your father?” Nan asked quickly.

Cindy shook her black curls. “The IAC man called Mother and told her they were sending out a plane to look for Daddy Pete, but we haven’t heard anything more.”

“I’m sure they’ll find him,” Nan said kindly.

At the registration desk Flossie looked at Bert. “Where’s Snoop?” she asked. “Doesn’t he have to register?”

Bert grinned. “He was asleep in the bottom of the canoe, so we decided not to disturb him. We’ll register for Snoop.”

The children listened carefully to the rules and instructions for the contestants, then started back to the boats. “We’ll see you when the parade is over!” Flossie called to Cindy.

Suddenly Hal’s voice was heard above the chattering of the crowd. “My canoe’s gone!”

Nan, Flossie, and Dorothy ran to the spot where Hal and the other boys stood staring at the empty space where the canoe had been.

“Who could have taken it?” Dorothy asked in bewilderment.

“And Snoop’s in it!” Freddie cried. “Snoop’s been stolen I”

In a few minutes a crowd had gathered at the place where the boats were tied up. As Hal was questioning the bystanders, a man pushed his way through.

“That aluminum canoe tied here?” he said to Hal. “Was that yours?”

The boy nodded.

“About ten minutes ago,” the newcomer said, “I saw a man jump into it and paddle away. I noticed him because I thought I had seen some children arrive in that same canoe.”

“Thank you, sir,” said Bert “Did you see which way he went?”

“Yes, I watched him,” the man replied. “He paddled down to the end of the lagoon, then turned north into the lake.”

“Come on, Hal, let’s follow him!” Bert cried. “May we take your boat, Dorothy?”

“Sure, go ahead!” Dorothy said. “Good luck! I hope you catch him.”

Bert, Harry, and Hal jumped into the boat. Bert started the motor and turned the bow toward the open water. When they reached the main part of the lake, he turned north.

“It’s going to be hard to find anyone along here,” Hall observed. “There are so many coves, a man could pull into one and we’d miss him completely!”

“Remember, though, he’s paddling and we have a motor,” Bert reminded Hal. “I think we can catch up to him.”

The boys were silent for a while as the motorboat put-putted up the lake. They scanned the shoreline intently, searching for a sign of Hal’s aluminum canoe.

“It looks as if the thief has given us the slip,” Harry observed finally.

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