Stealing down to the river noiselessly they easily found Jack's boat,
as they thought, and were preparing to bore the hole when suddenly
a voice piped up out of the darkness and from the boat itself:
"Hi! what are you going to do with this boat?"
The voice was that of young Smith who at the next moment stood up and
turned the light of a pocket flash upon them as they hastily beat a
retreat to the tents.
CHAPTER IV
THE BOAT AFFAIR UNSETTLED
The conspirators had not mistaken the boat, and got hold of young
J.W.'s by mischance, but had really begun operations on Jack's boat
when surprised by the boy who they supposed to be fast asleep.
It had happened that the little fellow had wanted to know some
particular point about the engine, and had asked Jack's permission
to look at his, which was simple and easily understood.
Jack had told him he could do what he liked, and the boy was under
the cover with his electric light turned on the engine when the
evildoers came up and got to work. The first turn of the auger
startled him, and he called out sharply wanting to know what they
were doing.
Then he suspected mischief, and immediately threw aside the cover,
and turned his light upon the fleeing rascals.
Pages:
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37