Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/275

, "I shall soon have my boat back again. It will be no trouble at all to take a line down twelve feet. I'd give something to know what she is loaded with."

"Contraband goods, I'll be bound," said Arthur. "The fruits of a raid on somebody's smoke-house or hen-roost. I am sorry to know that Matt Coyle is in the neighborhood, for we don't know at what moment he may jump down on us and steal something."

"We mustn't let him catch us off our guard,"said Roy. "It won't be safe to leave the skiff alone for a minute."

The boys' hands were as busy as their tongues, and in a short time the tent was up, a light from the jack-lamp was streaming out over the water, and the appetizing odor of fried bacon filled the air. The knowledge that the thieving squatter was no great distance away, and that he might make his appearance at any moment, did not cause them to eat lighter suppers than usual, nor did it interfere with their customary sound and refreshing sleep. They felt safe from attack. They did not believe that Matt Coyle had a boat (they knew very