"I'll go down to Lakeport and show 'em some day that I am honest and that they can't blacken my character in this manner," he growled.
He had seen Joe, Fred and Bart on the day that the boys discovered the sloop hidden in the creek, and he felt certain that the three boys were responsible for the report circulated about him. It may be added here that he was guilty, but he intended to do his best to squirm out of it.
"Betting on the races, eh?" said Si Voup to Marcy when they met.
"Oh, a little. I just won ten dollars."
"You are in luck. I just dropped five."
"Let me give you a tip," went on Dan Marcy. He knew Si well and knew exactly how to handle the youth. The "tip" was accepted, and by luck Si won two dollars on it. This made the pair more friendly than ever and quite a conversation ensued, regarding affairs at Lakeport, and the doings of the two baseball clubs.
"You could win a lot of money on that next baseball game if you wanted to," said Dan Marcy.
"How?"
"By betting on your club and then winning. Now don't think I said that for a joke. I mean, make it a dead sure thing that you will win."
"Yes, but how can we make it a dead sure thing?" questioned Si, with interest.