Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/350

 "The scow?" repeated Roy. "Have they got a boat of their own, I'd like to know."

Joe replied that they had a boat in their possession (of course he didn't know where they got it, or whether or not they had any right to call it their own), and then went on to tell of the exploit I had performed at the perch hole, and of the surprise that followed close upon the heels of it. He wound up his story by saying—

"I didn't have time to draw up my anchor, so I had to go overboard. I swam the best I knew how in order to reach the bank before Matt did; then I raced a mile or more through the woods in my wet clothes, and that was what tired me out."

"I wonder if we are to find that fellow hanging around every time we come into the woods?" said Roy, angrily. "Hallo, here!"

A slight splashing in the water drew their attention at the moment, and Joe and Arthur started up in alarm, expecting to find that the squatter and his boys had stolen a march upon them. There was a canoe close alongside of them, but the broad-shouldered,