"But I can't prove it," added Joe, "and that being so, perhaps I had better keep my mouth shut about it."
"That is true, my lad," answered the owner of the sloop. "It would never do to accuse anybody wrongfully. Perhaps it will be a good plan to have this Marcy watched."
Mr. Shale wished to reward the boys, but they would not listen to it, and as a result he promised to take them out on the lake whenever they wanted to go.
"But the boat has got to be cleaned, scraped and painted first," he added. "I would never wish to use her in her present condition."
When the boys were walking home Fred called Joe and Bart to one side.
"Please don't say anything about that cramp I had," he whispered. "If my folks hear about it they will never let me go near the water again."
"All right, I shan't say a word," answered Joe. "But you want to be careful, Fred, about going into the water in the future."
"Yes, for we can't afford to lose you off the club," added Bart, and then he gave Fred's arm a tight squeeze to show just what he did mean. He and the stout youth thought a great deal of each other.
The members of the Lakeport Baseball Club had sent a challenge to the Brookside nine, offering to play a game on some Saturday afternoon in the near future. An answer was received, choosing the following Saturday. The game was to be played at Brookside, where the local club had quite a nice grounds, although the grand stand was small.
"Now we are going up against a pretty good club," said Harry, after the acceptance was read.