Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/337

 with excitement and alarm, and so did the canoe.

"Oh, why don't Joe turn around?" cried the latter. "Matt intends to take him by surprise, and he'll be alongside in half a minute more."

Just then one of the boys allowed his paddle to rub against the side of the scow. The noise he made was very slight, but it was loud enough to attract the attention of Joe Wayring, who faced about to find his enemies within less than twenty feet of him. He was so astonished to see them there, that for a few seconds he could neither move nor speak. He stood as motionless and silent as a wooden boy; while Matt, seeing that he was discovered, snatched up his paddle and raised a yell of triumph.

"Now I reckon I'll have my boat back an' you into the bargain," he shouted, swinging his paddle around his head and then shaking it savagely at Joe. "When I get my hands onto you, the way I'll wear the hickories out on your back will extonish you wuss nor any thing you ever see."

"An' won't I punch your head though, to