Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/368

 so close to him, he pushed his piratical craft away from the skiff, and the darkness shut him out from view. When the guide arrived a few minutes later, he found the boys supporting themselves by holding fast to the sides of their boat, which was full of water. They had relieved her of their weight just in time to keep her from going to the bottom of the pond. She would not sink now, for she had no cargo aboard to speak of, and besides, the air that was imprisoned in the lockers assisted in keeping her afloat.

"Well, if this don't beat the world!" exclaimed Mr. Swan, as soon as he had taken in the situation. "Somehow or other those villains always manage to come out at the top of the heap, don't they? Did you have a fight with them? I heard sticks a clashing and somebody yelling. I hope none of you ain't hurt."

"Don't be uneasy on that score," replied Roy. "Joe and I had a scrimmage with them, but you didn't hear either one of us yell. It was Matt and Jake. Sam was good grit. He never said a word, although I punched him