There were three semi-open sheds.

Into each of these in turn Ripley peered.
The canoe was nowhere to be found.
"I'm a fool to lose my sleep and take all the risk for this!" grunted the boy, halting and staring moodily about him in his great disappointment.

He now glared angrily at a large building, two-thirds boathouse and one-third boat-building shop.
"Hiram Driggs had the canoe taken in there!" muttered the boy.
"Just my luck.

I couldn't get into that building unless I broke a window---and I don't dare do that." Still determined to get at the canoe, if possible, Fred stole down to the inclined platform from which boats were carried to the water.

But the water-front entrance to the boathouse also proved to be locked.
"There's no show for me here," grunted the young prowler.