Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/375

 "You're pretty sharp fellows," said the guide, in reply. "What's your opinion of his meaning?"

"He doesn't intend to kill off the guests as fast as they arrive, does he?" said Arthur.

"Probably not," said Joe. "But he means to steal them poor, and bother them in every way he can, so that they won't come here to spend their summer vacations."

"That's the very idea," said the guide, approvingly. "That's what he was up to, and that's what he is trying to do now; but we ain't going to let him stay. Now, then," he added, as he arose to his feet and produced his ancient brier-root, "if one of you will help me while the others tend to things about the camp, we'll be on our way to the lake in less'n half an hour by Joe's Waterbury."

"Are you going with us?" asked Arthur, who was delighted at the prospect of spending the day, and perhaps another night in the company of so famous a story teller.

"I reckon I might as well," replied the guide. "I know where to find Matt's trail now, but I can't do nothing with him and his