"It doesn't belong to anybody else," was the reply.
"Untie the boat, Clip. We'll go back!" ordered Bob.
The two boys dropped into the rowboat, and soon touched the bank.
"If you will get in we'll row you over," said Bob. "When did you lose the boat?"
"It drifted down last night," answered the new acquaintance. "I've been usin' it as a ferry-boat about twenty miles up the creek. Last night I thought it was tied securely, but this morning it was gone."
"I don't see how it could have broken away."
"Like as not some mischievous boy cut the cable," was the answer. "Any way, here it is, and here am I, Ichabod Slocum, the owner."
"Then the boat and its owner are once more united."
"Yes, but that don't take the boat back to where it belongs. It's drifted down here, easy enough; mebbe one of you boys will tell me how it's goin' to drift back."
"There may be some difficulty about that," answered Bob with a smile. "How long have you owned the boat?"