Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/363

 upon this suggestion. He and Roy pushed the skiff into the water, and when she was fairly afloat Arthur sprang aboard with the jack-lamp in his hand. A moment later its strong light flashed out over the pond, telling the fleeing squatter in language as plain as words that the darkness could not conceal his movements.

"There they are, not more than forty yards," said Arthur, who stood erect on the stern locker, steadying himself with the boathook. "Roy, let me have that oar, and you stand here with the lamp and open fire on them with your potatoes."

"I can't," was the answer. "I took the potatoes ashore to-night and washed some for breakfast; and the bag is in camp at this moment."

"Then we shall have to come to close quarters with them," said Arthur, "for I have no idea that they will give up when they find themselves cut off from shore."

"If we can only manage to detain them for two minutes, we shall have all the help we want," Joe remarked. "Look behind you."

Arthur glanced over his shoulder, and was