Colon,
on their way to get Corney and himself; "seems to me you fellows are in
a big hurry this same morning."

"We are," replied Fred. "We wanted to get the entire committee
together, and go in a body to see Brad. He ought to know that the boat
is always going to be in danger unless something is done to curb Buck
Lemington."

"Say, was I right?" cried Bristles, exultantly.

"You were," replied Colon, solemnly.

"Then he _did_ try to break in, so's to cut the boat, and injure her?"
the other went on, eagerly.

"Worse than that!" said Colon.

"Far worse!" Fred added, looking mighty solemn himself.

"Oh! come, let up on that sort of thing; open up and tell me what
happened!" the excited boy demanded.

When they did give him the whole story he could hardly contain himself,
between his natural indignation because of the meanness of the act, and
his delight over the success of Colon's little trap.

"Caught that sneak Conrad Jimmerson, and strung him up like a trapped
'possum, did you?" he cried, clapping his hands in glee. "Gee! what
tough luck that I wasn't around to see it. Always my bad fortune,
seeing lots of game when I haven't got a gun; and never a thing when
I'm heeled for business."

"You see Colon and myself got to talking it over," said Fred; "and we
made up our minds that it was hardly fair to keep the thing from Brad.
He's our head in the boat club, and ought to know all that's going on.
Besides, when toughs begin to want to burn down houses just for spite,
that's going pretty far. Something ought to be done to stop it."

Brad was of course duly impressed when he heard the story. He laughed
heartily at the comical element connected with Colon's man-trap; but
took the other part seriously.

"I'm going over and see my uncle about it," he declared in the end.
"Being a lawyer, and a judge at that, he'll tell me what to do. I think
he'll say he wouldn't mention a single name; for you know all lawyers
are mighty cautious how they give cause for a suit for slander. But
he'll tell me we ought to scatter the story all over town, and also let
it be known that from now on there'll be somebody in that house every
night, armed, and ready to fire on trespassers. See you later,
fellows."

Fred found a chance a little later to get away from his other chums. He
really did have an errand for his mother in one of the stores, but he
remembered something besides that he had intended doing at the earliest
opportunit