Bob obeyed and two minutes later the _Vagabond_ floated alongside the puzzling object, puzzling no longer. It was the tender, filled with water almost to the gunwales and empty of everything except the oars and a few dead fish. The four stared at each other in consternation. CHAPTER XII—WHEREIN NELSON SOLVES THE MYSTERY The _Vagabond_ rolled and dipped while the boys silently struggled with the problem confronting them. _Where was Spencer Floyd?_ There was the boat, there were the oars, there were the fish which he had promised, and, entangled with one of the oars, was the line he had used. But—where was he? Also, why was the tender full of water? “It’s the funniest thing _I_ ever ran up against!” breathed Dan, finally breaking the silence. After that questions came fast and furious and no one tried to supply the answers until Tom cried: “I know! Su-su-su-su-somebody ru-ru-ran him du-du-du——!” “Pshaw!” said Nelson. “Collisions don’t happen in broad daylight in a place like this where there’s water enough to float a fleet of warships!” “Bu-bu-bu-but look at the tu-tu-tender!” “I know,” Nelson muttered, “but I don’t believe——” “If it was an accident Spencer’s a goner,” said Dan. “Not necessarily,” said Bob. “If he was run down by a steamer or a schooner they might have stopped and picked him up.” “If they had wouldn’t they have landed him when the harbor was just around the corner?” “They might not have,” Bob answered. “They might have been in a hurry and just taken him along.” “That doesn’t seem likely,” objected Dan. “No,” added Nelson. “The least they could have done would have been to land him.” “Then he’s a gu-gu-gu-gu-goner!” said Tom sadly. “I don’t believe he was run into,” protested Nelson. “I know you don’t; you said so before,” Dan replied. “But if it wasn’t that, what was it? Where’s he got to and why is the boat full of water?” “I don’t know, but there are lots of things that might have happened.” “Such as what, Mr. Solomon?” “Well, he might have gone ashore for more bait and left the tender on the beach. Then the tide floated it out while he was gone. When he came back and saw that he couldn’t get it he decided to walk to town in hopes of finding us before we left.” “Well, that might be it,” acknowledged Bob after a moment’s consideration of the theory, “but somehow I can’t make myself think so. If you’re right then he’s waiting for us in the village.” “And maybe the officer fellow has him,” added Dan. “Hold on!” protested Tom. “That’s all ru-ru-right, but how did the boat get full of water?” Nelson looked nonplused. “It might have gone floating around and hit against something,” he finally ventured, “maybe a rock or a submerged log.” “Submerged poppycock!” said Dan. “I’ll tell you what really happened.” “Of course you will,” said Tom. “You know all about it, du-du-du-don’t you?”