They led through tangled undergrowth and became undetectable. Nancy followed the direction in which they had pointed. Her friends were close behind.
In a few minutes she saw a log lying across a little stream. She went over this natural bridge and found footprints on the other side. Ned was directly back of her but the others had not followed.
“Come on!” she called. “Here are more footprints—or I should say a man’s shoe prints.”
George came over the log next, then Burt, then Bess. Just as she reached the group, they heard a loud grunt at their rear.
They turned quickly. Dave Evans was not with them. Bess called out in alarm, “Dave! Where are you?”
Bess pointed to a strange glob of greenish light
There was no reply. At once the others rushed back across the log. When they reached the other side, Bess beamed her flashlight around.
“Dave!” she screamed.
Her date lay sprawled on the ground, face down. He did not move.
Quickly Burt and Ned knelt beside him. Then Ned announced, “He’s breathing, but he was knocked out pretty hard.”
“How frightful!” Bess murmured.
Nancy asked herself, “Was the blow from the fall? Or was it a hand-delivered knockout, perhaps by the ghostly figure?”
CHAPTER XIV
Overboard!
A DISCUSSION followed among Nancy’s friends whether they should let Dave lie still for a little while or carry him down to the cabin. The vote was for helping him down to the cabin.
“And let’s start,” Bess urged.
Dave was gently turned on his back. Nancy kept track of his pulse, while Bess took a scented handkerchief from her pocket and held it under his nostrils.
A few minutes later Dave opened his eyes and glanced around. He closed them again, but said, “Something hit me on the back of the head. I have a terrible headache.”
“Better stay where you are,” George advised.
She went toward the tiny mountain stream and dampened her handkerchief. Upon returning she laid it on Dave’s forehead.
“That feels good,” he said. Breathing deeply, he added, “And something smells mighty refreshing.”
Dave looked up once more. This time he tried to get up but faltered.
“Take it easy there!” Burt said, putting a hand under one shoulder.
Dave was still a little groggy. He shook his head a few times and took several deep breaths.
“I’ll be okay,” he assured the others.
“But no more sleuthing tonight,” Bess insisted. “Not for any of us. It’s just too dangerous in these woods—especially after dark.”
The others agreed but said they would come back in the daylight and continue working on the mystery.
“I’d like to find the guy who socked me,” Dave said.
“And I’d like to take care of him for you,” Ned offered, his eyes flashing.
It was a slow trek down the mountainside but finally they reached the cabin and Dave went to bed at once. Aunt Eloise and Matt were very solicitous, and after checking Dave, concluded that he would not need a doctor.
No one else felt sleepy. They all gathered in the living room to talk in subdued tones. The conversation returned to the mystery of the child’s sunken coach.
“Nancy, let’s see that valentine you told us about,” Ned requested.
She went for it and laid the memento carefully on the table. Matt and the boys admired the quaint cover with the name Maud Jayson so cleverly worked into the scroll design.
Then Nancy opened it and read the poem aloud:“‘Ever faithful to thee
And the memory of the little lass
Her lovely pony coach
Lying ’neath the Glimmerglass
NOE
5 R’ ”
Nancy explained who R was, then asked, “Any theories about that code?”
When no one answered, she went on, “I’m sure that the poet must have been referring to Otsego Lake and perhaps to this mirror-clear bay.”
“I’ll bet you’re right!” George exclaimed.
After studying the valentine, Ned suggested that the N and the E might well mean northeast.
Nancy nodded as Burt asked, “But what is that five under the backward letter C?”
She thought over the question a few moments, then replied, “It could stand for Five Mile Point across the lake.”
Nancy explained that the jut of land was about five miles distance from Cooperstown.
Aunt Eloise spoke up. “They tell a story about the Point. The man who owned it at one time went off on a long trip. While he was away, the people of Cooperstown used it for a picnic and swimming area.
“When he returned, they all hoped that he would make it a public park. Instead he chased everyone off the grounds and threatened arrest to trespassers.”
“The old meany!” George burst out.
Bess asked what was located northeast from Five Mile Point. She speculated that the code might refer to some spot beyond the bay.
Nancy produced a map of the area and drew a straight line from Five Mile Point directly northeast. She ended the line on the opposite side of the bay from Aunt Eloise’s cottage.
“That’s directly to the east of Glimmerglass Park,” Burt pointed out.
“Let’s go there early tomorrow morning,” George proposed.
Everyone agreed and Nancy suggested they take tools with them—picks, rakes, and a crowbar. By morning Dave was feeling like himself again and insisted upon going.
Ned said he would like to try out the Crestwood and asked Nancy to sail to the search site with him. “We’ll go across the lake first, then back to the bay.”
She smiled, “That would be fun but we’ll have to anchor a ways offshore. The water’s rather shallow there for some distance out.”
The other young people would go in Ned’s open sports car. Aunt Eloise had some errands in the village and Matt offered to accompany her.
He grinned. “We may even take a long ride so Eloise can show me the sights.”
Nancy, George, and Bess were very much pleased about this new friendship.
“If we’re not back by lunchtime,” Nancy said, “we’ll picnic at Glimmerglass Park. By the way, will you stop at Miss Armitage’s and give her the valentine? I think it will be safer there.”
“I’ll be glad to,” her aunt replied.
All the young people put on swimsuits and carried the scuba gear. The two couples went off in the car. Nancy and Ned hurried down to the dock and climbed aboard the Crestwood.
Ned ran up the nylon sail and Nancy took the tiller. It was a beautiful morning, but the water was so calm there was barely enough breeze to gain headway. By tacking Ned managed to move slowly into the middle of the lake.
Only a few boats were out. One of them, a speedboat, was roaring toward them from the direction of Cooperstown. The pilot seemed to be making a beeline for the Crestwood. Didn’t he see their sailboat? Or was he deliberately trying to harm the couple?
Ned and Nancy maneuvered toward the west side of the lake. The oncoming speedboat veered in their direction.
“He’s crazy!” Ned exclaimed. “Get ready to dive, Nancy.”
Just as the motorboat neared them the pilot, who was alone, turned the wheel sharply, causing great waves that rocked the sailboat violently. He steered on, but within seconds swerved back. This time he passed the Crestwood on the other side at such speed that towering swells formed.
Nancy and Ned were working furiously to keep their craft from capsizing. Nancy got a quick look at the name of their tormentor’s boat.
The Water Witch!
She had no time to speculate about the man’s identity. Was he an accomplice of the girl who had tried to run over Bess in the same craft?
“That guy’s a fiend!” Ned cried out.
The pilot made another sweeping circle around the Crestwood. This time the waves were too powerful for the sailboat to withstand. It capsized, thr
owing Nancy and Ned into the water. Instantly the motorboat took off, roaring back toward Cooperstown.
After their plunge, the couple clung to their overturned craft.
“He’s wicked!” Nancy cried angrily.
In a few moments she and Ned began trying to right the Crestwood. Though the sail was made of a light nylon fabric, it was heavy enough to hamper their efforts.
Nancy swam around to the fallen mast and strained to lift the sail while Ned tugged at the other side of the boat. It was no use.
“I’ll have to haul in the sheet,” he said.
Fortunately their friends, already in the water, had seen the accident in the distance. They had also noticed someone coming into the bay from the head of the lake. Yo was piloting his little outboard.
“We need a ride!” George shouted at him as he approached.
“Two of you climb aboard,” he said. Then he noticed the overturned craft. “Who’s that out in the lake?”
When he heard the names Nancy and Ned, he revved to full speed the instant George and Burt were in his boat. Within minutes the Crestwood was righted and the sheet hoisted. “It will dry quickly,” Nancy thought. Water which still remained in the sailboat was bailed out.
Yo asked, “What made you go over?”
Nancy told him and added, “By the way, did you find out who owns the Water Witch?”
“Yes. But they’ve rented it to a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Welch. Sorry but I forgot the man’s first name.”
“Was it Samuel or Michael, by any chance?” Nancy asked.
Yo’s face lighted up. “How’d you know that? It was Michael.”
Nancy was delighted with the information. Now she had a very good lead to the enemies who were harassing her and her friends.
“I’ll make further inquiries at that dock next time we go to Cooperstown,” she determined.
Nancy and Ned sailed to the area where they wanted to search, while Yo took Burt and George back there. He waved good-by and chugged off.
There were many sunbathers on the public beach of Glimmerglass Park and picnickers at tables. Nancy thought her group was far enough away not to be noticed, but she was wrong. Within a short time they were besieged by the questions of curious onlookers, some on foot, others in small boats.
One precocious boy in a canoe called out with a smirk, “What you hunting for? A sunken treasure?”
CHAPTER XV
Burglars!
DESPITE the annoying onlookers, and their attempts at humor, Nancy and her friends went on with the search for the child’s royal coach. The boys worked with the tools they had brought, until the water was riled and they could no longer see what they were doing.
The divers gathered on the surface and swam to shallow water. Here they held a conference and all came to the conclusion that anything buried deep could be located only with a probe. Unfortunately they had forgotten to include the underwater metal detector.
“We must remember to bring it along the next time we come to hunt for the coach,” Nancy remarked.
“Anybody hungry but me?” Bess called out.
George answered. “Yes. Let’s go back. Say, who wants to join a swimming race to our cottage?”
“Count me out,” Bess said. “I’ve had enough exercise.”
“Me too,” added Dave and slipped his arm around her shoulders.
They offered to drive the car back. Nancy and Ned had to sail the Crestwood to their dock.
Burt grinned and accepted George’s challenge. In order for Nancy and Ned to pace them, they kept the Crestwood alongside the swimmers. First George pulled ahead, then Burt.
“George is a wonder in the water,” Ned said admiringly. “She could race on a man’s swim team any time.”
Nancy smiled. “Who do you think is going to win?” she asked. “I’m betting on George.”
Ned heaved a sigh. “I can’t go back on my own sex so I’ll say Burt.”
His date was still smiling. “But you’re not too convinced.”
As they neared shore, the racers were pulling together in perfect rhythm. Their fingers touched the dock at the same instant. The two swimmers laughed. They climbed out of the water and went to the cottage.
Ned turned to Nancy as he took down the sheet and secured the Crestwood. “We both win and we both lose our bet.” In mock congratulations the couple shook hands.
Bess and Dave had been there for several minutes and had started luncheon preparations.
“Um! Something smells great!” Burt remarked, smacking his lips.
Bess replied slyly, “We’re having snail soup and broiled grasshoppers. Do you like them?”
Burt made a wry face as Bess knew he would, then she said, “Today’s menu is cream of tomato soup, ham-and-cheese sandwiches, and watermelon. Okay?”
“Okay plus,” Burt replied.
“For me, too,” added George.
As soon as Nancy and Ned were dressed, they came out to the porch where Aunt Eloise and Matt were talking. Miss Drew said she had a surprise for them.
“A man from the yacht club stopped here soon after you had gone,” she explained. “He extended a personal invitation to you both to enter one of the sailboat races this afternoon.”
“How thrilling!” Nancy exclaimed.
“He said it would not be necessary for you to let him know,” Aunt Eloise went on, “but if you can participate, be at the club dock by two-thirty. The race starts at three o’clock.”
“That’s great!” Nancy cried. “Want to do it, Ned?”
“I sure do. But first I think we’d better slick up the Crestwood a bit. After her bath, she looks a little the worse for wear.”
He and Nancy went down to examine the sailboat.
“If there’s any quick-drying paint around this place, I can give the Crestwood a coat,” he offered.
Everyone scrounged around the cabin and finally found an unopened can of quick-drying white paint. The sailboat was propped up on the shore. While Nancy wiped off spots from the sail, Ned rapidly sprayed on the shiny liquid. In a short time the Crestwood looked like new. Meanwhile, George and Burt had been washing out the inside. Soon that too was spick-and-span.
“She looks great!” Bess called from the porch. “Lunch is ready! Come and get it!”
They all were very hungry and ate every bit of the meal Bess had prepared. Then Nancy and Ned went to change into white shirts and shorts.
“Good luck!” Matt said as they left the porch. “We’ll drive around to the other side of the lake and watch the race.”
The group went down to the dock and the Crestwood was put in the water. As Nancy and Ned were about to set off, Aunt Eloise said, “Wait a minute! I forgot to give you the paper the man left which will identify you as entrants in the race.”
“I’ll get it,” Bess offered. “Where is the paper?”
Miss Drew said the envelope was on the bureau in her room, next to her pocketbook.
Nancy spoke up. “I really ought to have my sunglasses with me. Bess, would you mind bringing them also? They’re in my handbag.”
Bess hurried toward the cabin, and disappeared inside. She was gone several minutes and the others wondered why she was taking so long.
Aunt Eloise remarked, “The paper was easy to find.”
She had barely said this when Bess appeared at the doorway. She cried out at the top of her voice, “Come quickly! We’ve been robbed!”
Everyone was stunned. Nancy and Ned leaped off the Crestwood and followed the others, who were already rushing across the dock and up to the porch.
“Your bag is gone, Aunt Eloise!” Bess told her. “Nancy’s too!”
“What!” the group chorused.
George made a beeline for her room. At first glance nothing looked disturbed. But when she yanked open the bureau drawer she saw that both Bess’s purse and her own were missing.
“This is terrible!” George thought angrily.
Upon closer examination, she reported that the
fleet burglar or burglars had rifled various letters and other papers in the drawer.
Just then Dave came from the boys’ bedroom. “Somebody’s been through Matt’s suitcase!” he exclaimed.
Everyone agreed that the intruder must have been hunting for something other than money. What could it have been?
“One thing is certain,” Matt remarked. “The thief or thieves have been casing this place. Otherwise they never could have done such a complete job so quickly.”
Dave hurried up the path to the road and looked up and down but there was no one in sight and no car except the ones that belonged to Nancy and to Ned.
“At least they weren’t stolen,” Dave said to himself.
Finally everyone gathered in the living room. Nancy glanced at her wrist watch. “Goodness!” she exclaimed. “Ned, if we don’t leave at once, we’ll miss the race!”
The two dashed out to the porch, then stood in stupefied amazement. Their sailboat was gone!
By this time the others had followed them outside. But instead of waving them to victory, they too stared unbelievingly.
George was the first to speak. She cried out, “What a horrible trick! I’ll bet the same person or persons who robbed our cabin took that sailboat! ”
Her friends agreed. Nancy had been very quiet. Not only was she disappointed, but extremely worried. Her Aunt Eloise had important personal items in her handbag which she did not want to lose. Credit and charge account cards could easily be used by some stranger and her driver’s license also.
Nancy was alarmed about the loss of her own driver’s license. The thief might have been the girl who resembled her and would use her license.
Matt offered to drive into town and report the loss to the police. He said nothing was missing from his suitcase. After the group had made a list of stolen articles, Matt went off with it.
Nancy was thinking, “Oh, if Yo would only come along now, he might help us. But I suppose he’s down watching the races.”
As if in answer to her wish, however, within ten minutes Yo pulled up to the dock of Mirror Bay Bide-A-Wee.
“I came to see what happened to you,” he said. “I heard you were going to be in the race but you didn’t come.”