Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/364

 surprised to see the guide in less than a stone's throw of the skiff. How he had managed to put his canoe into the water and get her under way with so little loss of time, was a mystery.

"A fellow would have to look out for Mr. Swan in a hurry-skurry race, wouldn't he?" said Arthur. "Just see how he makes that little craft of his get through the water! If you two don't let out a section or so of your muscle, he will overtake the scow before we do."

Just then Matt Coyle's hoarse voice was heard calling warningly to them. "Don't come no nigher," it said. "If you think that we are sich fules as to go down to Injun Lake when we want to stay here, you are the biggest kind of fules yourselves. I'll break the head of the fust one of you that comes within reach."

"Matt has crawled back to the stern of his scow, and is standing there with his paddle in his hand," said Arthur, who could see every move the robber made. "I wonder if he thinks that we are 'fules' enough to give him battle before Mr. Swan comes up to help us."