“There,” said the boy.
High above the reeds, not far ahead of them, on the right bank of the river rose the black square shape of a large building.
“That’s it,” whispered the captain.
“The boathouse,” said the mate.
“Quiet.”
“ ’Sh.”
The boathouse stood deep in an inlet among the reeds. Captain John steered towards it.
“Easy all!” he whispered. There was dead silence on the river as the Swallow drifted on. There was a noise of music in the house with the lights in it.
“Captain Nancy said the boathouse had a skull and crossbones on it,” whispered Captain John.
“I see it. I see it,” cried Roger.
“Shut up. Be quiet,” hissed the mate.
“That’s it, all right,” whispered Captain John.
On the front of the big open boathouse, high up over the entrance, cut out of wood and painted staring white were a huge skull and crossbones big enough to have belonged to an elephant.
“Can you see in,” asked Captain John.
“There’s a big boat in there,” said Roger.