The Dasher and the Racer had also run to the beach, and their crews had landed. Dory supposed they were going into the water, and he hardly gave a thought to them. For a time they gathered in knots on the shore, and seemed to be busy talking together. Then they began to walk about, and extended their ramble to a considerable distance. They did not go into the water, and at the end of half an hour they embarked in their boats and pulled out of the cove.
But they did not go a great way. At the entrance to the cove, half a mile distant, they lay upon their oars. Thus far the Winooskis had been so busy with their sports in the water that they hardly heeded the Chesterfields. The young gentlemen had departed, and the skirmishing for that day appeared to be at an end.
"What are those fellows about?" shouted Corny Minkfield, when the operations of the Chesterfields attracted his attention.
Every member of the Winooski's crew glanced in the direction from which the two barges had been last seen. The boats were at rest at the entrance of the cove; but their crews were not laying on their oars. Each one of them had raised something like a flag or a rag on his blade. They were all yelling like maniacs, and flaunting these banners in the air. The Winooskis swam to shallow water, and stood upon their feet. It was time to go out, and they went ashore.
The Chesterfields had stolen their clothes; and these garments were the banners they flaunted.
CHAPTER V. JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE.
"They have stolen our clothes!" shouted Ben Ludlow, who was the first to discover the mischief that had been done.
"Shall we steal theirs if we can get hold of them?" asked Dory.