“Why not?” demanded John. “The exercise will do you good.”
“Are you coming after us?” asked Grant.
“Not that we know,” laughed Fred.
“I guess we paddle ourselves then, Pop,” said Grant to his companion.
“All right,” agreed George. “I’ll get square with them though.”
“How are you going to do it?”
“You let me paddle and I’ll show you.”
They spoke in a low tone of voice so that their friends on board the Balsam could not hear them and in silence they embarked upon the second canoe. Grant sat in the bow while George wielded the paddle in the stern. They approached the catboat rapidly where John and Fred sat waiting for them with broad grins upon their faces.
“You must think we run a ferry,” exclaimed Fred as the canoe drew near.
“Not at all,” said Grant. “We just thought that perhaps you’d be glad to do a good turn for us.”