if Mr. Poole spent money up here looking for his brother, and
then found out that the wild man was somebody else, he would never
forgive either himself or you for the outlay." And at this frank
statement those who knew how miserly the money-lender of Crumville was
laughed outright.

Mr. Basswood departed for Carpen Falls in the middle of the forenoon. As
it promised to be a warm, clear day, one of the young folks suggested
that they go in bathing at a little sandy beach a short distance below
the bungalows. This suggestion was eagerly seconded, and as a
consequence, a little later on, the young folks donned their bathing
outfits and soon were having great sport in the water, with the older
folks sitting on a fallen tree not far away watching them.

"Oh, but it's cold!" declared Jessie, after her first plunge.

"You'll get used to it after a bit," returned Dave. "Just strike out
lively, and that will help to keep your blood in circulation."

"Come on for a race!" shouted Luke, who was splashing around in great
shape.

"A race it is!" called back Phil.

"Where shall we race to?" questioned Roger.

"If you are going to race, I'll be the referee and timekeeper,"
announced Dunston Porter.

It was decided that the boys should swim from the beach to a rock
standing out of the water on the far edge of the cove.

"First fellow to stand up on the rock wins the prize," announced Phil,
and then he added quickly: "Girls, what's the prize?"

"A fresh flapjack to the boy who bakes it," announced Belle, gaily.

"Say, speaking of flapjacks puts me in mind of a story," came from
Shadow, who was wading around in water up to his ankles. "Once there
were two old miners who were in a camp in the mountains. They got to
disputing as to who could make the best flapjacks. Says one of
them----"

Shadow did not finish the story he had started to tell. Unbeknown to
him, Roger had come up behind, and was now on his hands and knees in the
water. Luke gave the would-be story-teller a quick shove; and over went
Shadow backwards, to land in the shallow water with a resounding splash.

"Flapjack number one!" cried Luke, gaily. "Say, Shadow, what are you
making so much noise about?"

"I'll noise you!" roared the former story-teller of Oak Hall, as he
scrambled to his feet.

Then he started to rush after Luke, but Roger caught him by his ankle,
and down he went into the water with another splash, this time sending
the spray flying clear