"Keene, Carolyn - Nancy Drew 022 - The Clue in the Crumbling Wall" - читать интересную книгу автора (Keene Carolyn)

"Better forget the scenery for a while," Nancy
advised, "and give George a hand with the bail-
ing. If you don't, our shoes will be soaked."
The water was coming in faster now. Both Bess
and George worked vigorously, dipping the water
and throwing it over the side.
"Listen!" Nancy said presently. "What's that?"
Bess and George stopped bailing to look
around. They had heard no unusual sound.
"Another boat!" Nancy exclaimed as the noise
of an engine grew louder. "But where is it?"
Just then a small blue-and-white craft shot into
view from Harper's Inlet, one of the river's many
small hidden bays.
"Look out!" Bess cried in alarm.
The pilot in the oncoming boat seemed to be
unaware of the girls in their little craft. At high
speed he raced straight toward it. Desperately
Nancy spun the wheel. There was not enough
space to clear.
With a splintering crash the two boats collided!

CHAPTER III

A Runaway Boat

The speeding boat which had struck the girls'
craft now veered sharply away and raced down-
stream.
Meanwhile, the impact had caused Bess to lose
her balance. She hit her head on the side of the
boat and toppled into the water.
Instantly Nancy turned off the motor. If Bess
were unconscious, there was no time to lose!
George had already dived over the side. When
she located her cousin, she grasped the inert
form with her left arm and struck out with the
other for the boat. Nancy leaned over and helped
pull the unconscious Bess aboard.
"Is she-?" Nancy began.
At that moment Bess opened her eyes and
coughed several times. Nancy patted her on the
back.
"I'm-all-right," Bess said weakly. "Our
boat-" She tried to point.
For the first time the others realized that water
was filling the craft at an alarming rate through
a small hole in its side.
"Quick, George! Bail!" Nancy cried.
George picked up the bucket she had been us-