“Was it you folks that took this boat? I found her up Catfish a little ways,” queried Big Mike, pushing off.
“Well—yes. You see, it was unlocked, and we didn’t know it belonged to anybody especial, and we wanted to get across,” explained Ned.
“It didn’t make no difference,” said Big Mike. “If I’d knowed who had it I wouldn’t have cared. Only, I thought some of them Dutch on the island had got it. They’re all the time doin’ that.”
“Let me row,” urged Tom.
“Naw; she rows easy after she gets started,” grunted Big Mike.
“It’s an awful nice boat. Did you name it?” piped Zu-zu, timidly, hoping to please their dreadful host. Who knows—he might be planning to dump them in the slough, and drown them!
Big Mike wriggled uneasily, evidently flattered.
“Naw; she was named before I got her,” he answered. “She ain’t very pretty, but she’s good enough for ’round here.”
“How’s your shoulder?” he asked, gruffly, of Ned.