me."

"Who were they?" asked the doctor's son.

"One of 'em was Ham Spink, and the other was that chap who is
always with him."

"Carl Dudder?"

"I guess that's his name---the chap who was going to give the
fireworks celebration."

"Humph!" muttered Snap. "What did they do?

"Walked around the building several times and peeped in the windows.
One of 'em tried the back door, but just then the other fellow saw
me and he gave a little whistle. Then both of 'em walked away
pretty quick."

"The rascals!" cried Whopper. "I'll bet a sour apple against a
gooseberry they wanted to spoil our outfit!"

"Sure they did," answered Snap.

"I'll tell you what I think," said Shep, after the boys had talked
the matter over for several minutes. "I think somebody ought to
stay here to-night and watch this outfit. For all we know, they
may come back."

"There is an old cot in the boathouse---a fellow might sleep on
that," suggested Whopper.

"Then that is what I am going to do,---if my folks will let me,"
answered the doctor's son.

"You'll be lonely," said Snap. "Maybe I'd better stay with you.
If Ham and Carl did come back you couldn't manage them alone."

"I could if I had a shotgun."

"Oh, you wouldn't want to shoot anybody, Snap!"

"No, but I could scare 'em off."

"I've got an idea," cried Whopper. "Why not fix it so as to give
them a warm reception---if they do come," and then he explained
what he meant.

In the end it was decided that Snap and Shep should remain at the
boathouse, and Whopper ran off to tell their folks and to get a
few things. As the boys were used to outings the youths' parents
thought little of their staying away that night, and only sent
word back that they should keep out of mischief.

"We'll keep out if we are left alone," said the doctor's son, grimly.

Whopper had brought with him an old tin pail containing some hot
water and half a pound of flour. This was stirred up into a thick
flour paste, and to give it the "proper flavor," as Snap suggested,
they broke into the mixture two ancient eggs which one of the party
had picked up.

Joe Bright had been sent away, with instructions to say nothing
about what was going on at the boathouse, and soon Whopper followed
him. Then Snap and Shep went into the building and locked the
door behind them.

The structure was a one-story affair, with a small loft overhead,
for the storage of extra oars and odds and ends of boat lumber.