"I wonder if any of the windows have been left unlocked." His good sense told him that it would be a serious matter indeed to raise a window and enter the building---if he were caught.
But Fred, after a few moments of strained listening, decided to take the chance.

At any hazard that he dared take he must get to the war canoe and put it out of commission for all time.
He tried three of the windows.

All of them proved to be locked.
"I'm going to have some more of my usual luck," groaned young Ripley.

"I wonder why it is that I always have such poor luck when I have my heart most set on doing a thing ?" He was slipping along to the fourth window when he heard a sound that almost caused his heart to stop beating.
Merely the sound of footsteps pausing by the gate to the boatyard---that was all, for a moment.

But Fred cowered in acute dread.
"Who's in there ?" called a steady voice, that filled Fred Ripley with consternation, He knew that voice! It belonged to a member of the Gridley police force.
"Talk about your tough luck!" shivered Fred.