unt,
accompanied by vigorous howling from Dick, but not a word of any sort
from the crab. The next consequence was that the crab let go, but so, at
the same instant, did the rotten board in the boat-bottom upon which
Dick Lee had so rashly danced.

[Illustration: DICK LEE IN TROUBLE.]

It let go of the rest of the boat so suddenly that poor Dick had only
time for one tremendous yell as it let him right down through to his
armpits. The water was perfectly smooth, but the boat was full in an
instant, and nearly a bushel of freshly caught and ill-tempered crabs
were maneuvering in all directions around the woolly head which was all
their late captor could now keep in sight.

"Up with the grapnel, Ford," shouted Dab. "Take an oar! We'll both row.
He can swim like a duck, but he might split his throat."

"Or get scared to death."

"Or eaten up by the crabs."

CHAPTER VII.

At the very moment when the angry crab closed his nippers on the bare
big toe of Dick Lee, and his shrill note of discomfort rang across the
inlet, the shrill whistle of the engine announced the arrival of the
morning train at the little station in the village.

A minute or so later, a very pretty young lady was standing beside a
trunk on the platform, trying to get some information of the flag-man.

"Can you tell me where Mr. Foster lives?"

"That's the gimlet-eyed laryer from Yark?"

"Yes, he's from New York," said the young lady, smiling in his face.
"Where does he live?"

"He's got the sapiest boy, thin. Is it him as took the Kinzer house?"

"I think likely it is. Can you tell me how to get there?"

"Thim Kinzers is foine people. The widdy married one of the gurrels to
Misther Morris."

"But how can I get to the house?"

"Is it there ye're afther goin'? Hey, Michael, me boy, bring up yer owld
rattlethrap an' take the leddy's thrunk. She'll be goin' to the Kinzer
place. Sharp, now!"

"I should say it was!" muttered the young lady, as the remains of what
had been a carry-all were pulled up beside the platform by the skinny
skeleton of what might once have been a horse. "It's a rattletrap!"

There was no choice, however, for that was the only public conveyance at
the station, and the young lady's trunk was already whisked in behind
the dashboard, and the driver was waiting for her.

[Illustration: "THE ONLY PUBLIC CONVEYANCE AT THE STATION."]

He could afford to wait, as it would be hours before another train would
be in.