Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/276

 well that he could not have brought the punt with him), and consequently there was no way for him to reach them unless he resorted to swimming; and they did not think he would be foolish enough to try that.

The boys slept soundly that night, but the next morning's sun found them astir. Arthur made a cup of coffee over the pocket cooking stove, after which the tent was taken down, and Joe Wayring made ready for business by divesting himself of his clothing.

The first thing was to find out just where the canoe lay, and that did not take them as long as they thought it would. The water was as clear as crystal, and every thing on the bottom could be plainly seen by Joe and Roy, who leaned as far as they could over opposite sides of the skiff, while Arthur rowed them back and forth in the vicinity of the snag.

"There she is!" cried Roy, suddenly; and as he spoke he caught up the anchor and dropped it overboard. "We're right over her, and there isn't a snag or any other obstruction in the way."

Joe Wayring stepped upon the forward