"I did. Why, what's the matter, Shep?"

"Well, if that don't beat the Dutch!" And then Shep shook his head
in a manner that indicated something did not suit him at all.

CHAPTER II

ANOTHER OUTING PROPOSED

"Will you be so highly condescending and much obliging as to open the
trapdoor of your mind and let us know what it is that beats the
Dutch?" demanded Giant, after he and his chums had looked at the
doctor's son for several seconds in silence.

"Why, yes, of course," answered Shep. "But er---it all fits in with
what I was going to tell you about in the first place."

"And that was-----" burst out Whopper eagerly.

"Wait till we are out on the river, away from the town folks. I don't
want everybody to know our business."

"Great Scott! but Shep's got a secret!" burst out Snap. "What is
it---a treasure hunt, or a new way to make diamonds?"

"Now quit fooling, and come on out in the boat, and you'll soon know
all about it," replied the doctor's son.

"Then we have got to wait?" asked Giant reproachfully.

"And when we are dying by inches to know," added Whopper.

"Yes, you've got to wait. So the sooner we get out on the river the
better---if you are dying, as you say," responded the doctor's son.

While talking the four chums had been watching the departure of the
Ham Spink crowd from another dock. Soon the boat that carried the
dudish bully and his cronies disappeared around a bend of the river.

In a very few minutes Shep and his chums had their rowboat out. They
were used to rowing together, and each took his accustomed place at
the oars. Shep gave the word, and like clockwork four blades dropped
into the water and the rowboat shot away from the dock.

"Where shall we go?" asked Giant.

"Let us row over to Lackney's orchard," answered Snap. "Dandy apples
there---and Mr. Lackney told me we could help ourselves."

"Suits me!" cried Whopper. "I'd rather eat apples than go to a
fire. Us three can eat while Shep does the spouting."

"Humph! perhaps I'd do a little eating myself," came from the doctor's
son.

It was an ideal day in midsummer, and all of the lads were in the
best of spirits. As they rowed along they discussed the encounter
with the Spink faction.

"I wish they'd leave us alone," was Shep's comment. "I am getting
so I fairly hate the sight of Ham and Carl Dudder."

"So do I," added Whopper. "But they don't intend to leave us alone,
and that is all there is to