But she did not forbid Neale to make the journey to the lock. The road was good all the way to Durginville and it was a highway the Corner House girls had not traveled in their automobile. At another time they would have all enjoyed the trip immensely in the cool of the evening. And Neale drove just as fast as the law allowed--if not a little faster. Agnes loved to ride fast in the auto; but this was one occasion when she was too worried to enjoy the motion. As they rushed on over the road, and through the pleasant countryside, they were all rather silent. Every passing minute added to the burden of anxiety upon the minds of the two sisters and Neale; nor were the visitors lacking in sympathy. After all, little folk like Sammy and Dot are in great danger when out in the world alone, away from the shelter of home. So many, many accidents may happen. Therefore it was a very serious party indeed that finally stopped at Bumstead Lock to ask if the lock-keeper or his wife, who lived in a tiny cottage and cultivated a small plot of ground near by, had noticed any passengers upon Cap'n Bill Quigg's barge. "On the _Nancy Hanks_?" repeated the lock-keeper. "I should say 'no'! young lady," shaking his head emphatically at Ruth's question. "Why, who ever would sail as a passenger on that old ramshackle thing? I reckon it'll fall to pieces some day soon and block traffic on the canal." Ruth, disappointed, would not have persevered. But Luke Shepard asked: "Is there much traffic on the canal?" "Well, sometimes there is and sometimes there ain't. But I see all that goes through here, you may believe." "How many canalboats went toward Durginville to-day?" the collegian inquired. "Why--lemme see," drawled the lock-keeper thoughtfully, as though there was so much traffic that it was a trouble to remember all the boats. "Why, I cal'late about _one_. Yes, sir, one. That was the _Nancy Hanks_." "She ought to be a fast boat at that," muttered Neale O'Neil. "_Nancy Hanks_ was some horse." "So that was the only one?" Luke persevered. "And you spoke with Cap'n Quigg, did you?" "With Bill Quigg?" snapped the lock-keeper, with some asperity. "I guess not! I ain't wastin' my time with the likes of him." "Oh-ho," said Luke, while his friends looked interested. "You don't approve of the owner of the _Nancy Hanks_?" "I should hope not. I ain't got no use for him." "Then he is a pretty poor citizen, I take it?" "I cal'late he's the poorest kind we got. He ain't even wuth sendin' to jail. He'd gone long ago if he was. No. I've no use for Cap'n Bill." "But you saw there was nobody with him on the boat--no children?" "Only that gal of his." "No others?" "Wal, I dunno. I tell you I didn't stop none to have any doin's with _them_. I done my duty and that's all. I ain't required by law to gas with all the riffraff that sails this here canal." "I believe you," agreed Luke mildly. He looked at Neale and grinned. "Not very conclusive, is it?" he asked.