Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/121

 favorably of it. There were those among them who had never been first in any race, although they were very expert canoeists; and it was not at all likely that they would consent to see these new-comers carry off the prizes for which they had contended ever since the club was organized.

Tom and his cousins were tired enough to rest now, and they found it lounging in their hammocks under the trees, and watching the boats that passed up and down the lake. They took another short run in their canoes by moonlight, spent the next forenoon sailing about in Loren's sloop, and at one o'clock bent their steps toward the store where they were to meet George Prime and his friends. When they arrived at the place where Matt Coyle's shanty stood the day before, they were surprised as well as delighted to find that it wasn't there.

"He's gone, as sure as the world," cried Ralph. "Now we shall very soon know whether or not he has the pluck to do any thing to the men who would not give him a chance to earn an honest living."