Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/361

 Jake and Sam laid out all their strength upon their paddles, and the bow of the skiff grated harshly as it moved over the sand. The noise, slight as it was, awoke Jim, who was on his feet in a twinkling. He took just one glance at the marauders, and then danced about the camp in a perfect ecstasy of rage, barking and yelping with all his might.

His first note of angry remonstrance alarmed the boys, who were off their fragrant couches in less time than it takes to tell it. The moment they arose to a perpendicular, they were wide awake and ready to act. They made a simultaneous rush for the beach, and while Arthur and Joe seized the skiff and pulled her back where she belonged, in spite of all that Jake and his brother could do to prevent it, Roy caught up the painter and deftly took a turn with it around a convenient sapling.

"Now, haul away and see how much you will make by it," he exclaimed. "That's once you got fooled."

"Wal, I'll bet a hoss that I ain't fooled yet," said the squatter, in savage tones. "Pull ashore, Jakey, an' we'll get out an' lambast