"I heard them planning," explained Win. "I was up in the woods to-day and I heard some one talking, and I listened to hear who it was."
"What did they say?"
"Monkey said he guessed there'd be a surprise party here in the morning, when you found you didn't have any boat to row with. Sam asked how they could do it, and Monkey said they would go down to the boathouse to-night, after it got dark, and fix it. Sam didn't want to go very much, but Monkey said it was all right, and nobody would know who did it."
"Do you think he meant our shell?"
"Sure," replied Win. "He said he was going to get square with Rand Peyton and Pepper Blake. So I hid in the bushes until they went away, and I came down here to tell Gerald."
"Thank you, Win," said Rand; "we are ever so much obliged to you."
"Don't let them know I told you," pleaded Win, "or they will half kill me for telling."
"Sure not," promised Rand. "You can slip off again and no one will know you have been here."
"Well, what do you think of that!" exclaimed Pepper, when Win had gone.
"Shure, an' phat mischief are ye's plotting now?" demanded Gerald, who came across the lawn as his brother slipped away.