“If you try it,” Hart cut in angrily, “you’ll get a taste of good birch rods. We have no time to fool with boys.”
By this time the men lounging on the bank of the cove were on their feet, taking note of what was going on near the fire. Seeing their companions talking with two boys who seemed to them to be tramps, they dropped back to the ground again without interest.
A tall, rather pleasant looking man however soon left the group and approached the place where the boys were standing.
“What seems to be the trouble, Peck,” he asked as he drew near.
“Well, Ball,” Peck answered, “we seem to have come upon two boy tramps. They’re harmless enough, I guess.”
“Where are you going, boys?” Ball asked.
“Waiting for our chums to come back with the boat,” answered Case.
“So you’ve got a boat have you?” Hart exclaimed.
At the mention of a boat, Ball leaned forward and eyed the boys critically, a suspicious gleam in his eyes.
“Where is the boat now?” he asked.