"I will take the Sylph and hunt it up." "Let me go with you, Uncle Ben." "My eyes! but the Sylph is gone too!" exclaimed the veteran, as he perceived the moorings afloat where she usually lay.
"Strange, isn't it ?" Uncle Ben scratched his head, and did not know what to make of it.
"Here comes Tony, running with all his might," continued Frank.

"What's the matter, Tony ?" "Somebody has stolen the Butterfly!" gasped Tony, out of breath." "And the Zephyr and the Sylph!" Several of the members of the club now arrived, and the matter was thoroughly discussed.
"Who do you suppose stole them!" said Frank.
"Who?
why, Tim Bunker of course," replied Fred.
"But he must have had some help." "Perhaps not; he has done it to be revenged, because your father turned him out of the club." "Very likely." "May be he'll smash them up," suggested William Bright.
"Have you seen anything of Charles this morning ?" asked Mr.Hardy, entering the boat-house at this moment.
"No, sir." "He did not sleep at home last night." The Zephyrs looked at each other with astonishment, and most of them, probably, connected him with the disappearance of the boats.

His intimacy with Tim Bunker created a great many painful misgivings, especially when Mr.Hardy told them that his son had played truant on Saturday; and one of the boys had heard of his being seen with Tim on that day.

Various other facts were elicited, which threw additional light upon the loss of the boats.

Mr.Hardy was in great distress.