"That's not what I mean," said Nancy. "Look at the flower border where my new rosebushes where."

            "Why, they're gone!" said Hannah. She stared in amazement at two holes filled with rain water.

            "The bushes were dug up," said Nancy, "and stolen!"

            "Probably by the same thief who took plants from some of our neighbors," Hannah remarked. "There's been a rash of these thefts lately."

            "I'll report it when I go to headquarters this afternoon," Nancy said.

            While she set the table and heated soup, Hannah made sandwiches. By the time the two had finished their lunch, the ground had dried a little and the sun was out.

            They hurried into the back yard to inspect the damage. Except for the rosebushes, no plants were missing. Nancy could not find any clues to the thief. She and Hannah began cleaning up debris from the storm. Suddenly they heard the familiar song of one of River Heights' well-known eccentric characters.

            "Here comes my old friend Salty down the street!" Nancy laughed, shaking off her somber mood.

            The good-natured, elderly man, once a sailor, had received his nickname from Nancy when she was a little girl. He had introduced himself to the Drew household as Boatswain Bostwick Bumpleton, "home from the salty seas."

            Nancy had tried to say his whole name but sometimes mixed it up. Once she addressed him as Bumple Boat and another time as Humpty Dumpty Bumpleton, much to his amusement. Finally the little girl settled on Salty and her nickname stuck to him.

            The man's cart bell tinkled merrily, and a moment later the jolly, weather-beaten sailor wheeled his wagon around the corner of the driveway. Spying Nancy and Hannah, he sang again: