If a launch had towed it, the noise would have awakened us, even though Larry or Sam had been asleep.

If the houseboat was towed by the girls, which it undoubtedly was, it can't be far away.
That makes our work easier." "There is only one flaw in your argument, George," interrupted Billy Gordon.

"Granting that they did row away from here, how do you know that at daylight they did not pick up a launch and hike half the length of the lake ?" George shook his head slowly.
"There wouldn't be any fun for them in that.

They would want to be on hand, to make faces at us behind our backs." "You may be right at that." Billy gazed reflectively over the lake.

As he gazed his eyes took on an expression of new interest.