We can claim it for our own Will said as he dug his paddle into the water You’ll do nothing of the sort Pam exclaimed The boat belongs to this poor man He’s hurt Ignoring Pam’s good deed Joey made a face at her and paddled toward the spot where the craft had sunk When the rowboat reached the dock Mrs Hollister and the other three children were waiting Their mother was a pretty slender woman with blond hair Her face usually smiling was full of anxiety as she helped Pete and Dave lift the injured man onto the dock Let’s put him in this lawn chair Mrs Hollister directed the two boys I’ve already telephoned to Officer Cal Ricky said He’s bringing the Emergency Squad No sooner had he spoken than the wailing siren could be heard far down the road The emergency truck roared into the Hollisters driveway halted and three men ran to the dock One of them was Cal Newberry a pleasant-faced young officer who had worked with the Hollister children on some of the mysteries they had solved The first-aid men examined the dripping-wet boatman No broken bones Officer Cal said smiling The man’s eyes opened again and he looked about bewildered Where am I You’re all right Officer Cal assured him What is your name Charlie Tiger Tail the man said sitting up and rubbing his head I had an accident 11
You hit the water awfully hard Pam said sympathetically Is that your real name Ricky asked I don’t know anybody else named Tiger Tail The man’s bronze face lighted up in a smile That’s because there aren’t any Seminole Indians around Shoreham he said You are a Seminole asked Mrs Hollister Yes he said then stopped abruptly and pointed out on the lake Are those two boys trying to get my boat Joey Brill was leaning over the end of the canoe reaching down into the water Get away from there Joey Pete called It’s our boat and we’re going to keep it Will bellowed Oh no you’re not shouted Officer Cal He hurried to the Hollisters boat and stepped into it Instantly Joey and Will sped off I’ll get you for telling the cops Pete Hollister Joey yelled shaking his fist When they had disappeared around the bend Officer Cal got back on the dock I’ll notify the Pine Lake Patrol he said We’ll get your boat for you Mr Tiger Tail But now you’d better change those wet things said Pam She and her mother led the Indian into the house where Mrs Hollister gave him towels and dry clothes Meanwhile the other children followed the policeman to the truck radio and watched while he sent 12
a message to headquarters Then he and his two rescue buddies drove off I have to go on an errand Dave said So long When Charlie Tiger Tail reappeared in the backyard with Pam and her mother he was wearing one of Mr Hollister’s sport shirts and a fresh pair of khaki trousers They had been rolled up at the bottom for the Indian although sturdily built was shorter than the children’s father Charlie Tiger Tail told them he was a guide who took people on airboat trips in the Florida Everglades I have two boats he said but brought only one to Shoreham on an auto-trailer This craft used to be driven by an airplane propeller However I wanted to have the fastest one in the Everglades So you came to the jet factory in Shoreham Pete guessed That’s right the Seminole went on He explained that he had purchased a small jet engine and had mounted it on his craft But it doesn’t balance too well I’m afraid he said Oh don’t worry Daddy will help you fix it Ricky declared Why do you have to have the fastest boat in the Neverglades little Sue chirped Everglades silly Holly said pinching her sister’s pink cheek That’s a place in Florida I’m a deputy sheriff the Indian replied and I have to catch turtle poachers They have fast boats so mine must be faster 13
