"No. Sit still, that's all," came from Tom, sharply. The idea of having Waltham speak of paying them at such a time disgusted him.
In the meantime the second fellow in the tree had moved down a limb or two with the idea of following Waltham into the rowboat. But now, as he looked at the three Rovers, he suddenly drew back.
"Hi there! don't you want to come with us?" cried Dick, considerably astonished over the man's actions.
To this the individual in the tree made no reply. He kept behind the trunk and finally waved a hand as if to motion them away.
"Say! is that fellow crazy?" questioned Sam.
"He must be," was Tom's comment. He turned to Chester Waltham. "Do you know him!"
"No, he's a stranger to me. I tried to speak to him, but he was so scared and cold from the ducking he got he did nothing but chatter, so I couldn't understand him."
"See here, it's foolish to stay up there," called out Dick. "Come on down and we'll take you ashore."
"D-do-don't want to g-g-go," came the stuttered-out reply. "G-go-wheep!" came in a funny little whistle. "G-g-go a-away!"
"Well, of all the scared fellows——" commenced Tom.