Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/354

 I told Hanson that I was as sure as any thing could be that they had been stole, and that mebbe the owner would come along some day looking for them; so Hanson, he buys 'em, reels and all, for four dollars apiece—all except one that Jake said had been broke by a bass, and for that he give two dollars. They were covered with mud and rust, but I cleaned 'em up, and now they look as good as new."

"They are our rods, and I know it," exclaimed Roy. "If mine is the one that's broken, I shall have the satisfaction of knowing that I paid Jake for it in advance by hitting him in the mouth with that potato."

"And if it's mine, I settled with him this afternoon by slapping him in the face with his father's paddle," chimed in Joe Wayring.

The guide laughed again. "You're as plucky a lot of youngsters as I ever see," said he, "and you may rest assured that them folks won't bother you or any body else much longer. We are going to put 'em in jail for thieves when we catch 'em."

"Ah! Yes," said Arthur; "but that's right where you are going to see trouble. Our