"Whee! I'm glad on you're going to have the canoe fixed all right," nodded the other boy, and passed on.
Forty-five minutes after Driggs' departure Jim Snowden came up with the truck. With the help of the boys he loaded the canoe from the other truck, then started away.
By this time the news had spread to other boys that Dick & Co. would soon have their war canoe afloat in fine order—-that Hiram Driggs stood sponsor for the prediction.
That evening Fred Ripley had a somewhat unpleasant talk with his father.
"You've no business with pocket money," said Squire Ripley sternly.
"You have no idea of the value of it."
"I thought I had made a good bargain," said Fred sullenly.
"So does every fool who parts with his money as easily as you do," returned the lawyer. "Well, enjoy yourself, my boy. If you'd rather have that paralyzed pony than the money I gave you to enjoy the summer with, I suppose you're entitled to your choice, though I don't like your judgment."
"Of course," suggested Fred, "since I've met with misfortune you won't be too hard on me. You'll let me have a little more money, so I won't have to go through the summer like a mucker."
"I'll give you no more spending money this summer," retorted the lawyer, adding, grimly: "If I did, you'd probably go and buy a cart to match your horse."
In fact Fred felt so uncomfortable at home that, just after dark, he started up Main Street.