declared Davy, beginning to
unfasten his shoes, as if anxious to be busy; "now, if you fellers would
just roll that same log into the water while I'm doing up my duds in a
little package that I c'n tie on top, so as to keep 'em dry, I'll be
ready in short order. Then you watch me paddle my own canoe for the
shore. It'll be just more fun than a circus for David, believe me."

So Thad and Smithy took hold, and with the aid of the sticks in their
hands it was found that the log could be readily turned over. Each time
this was done it drew closer to the water's edge, and presently splashed
into the lake.

"See her float just like a duck, will you?" remarked the delighted Davy,
who was by this time making a bundle of his shoes, hat and clothes,
which he expected to secure somehow to the log, or thrust into a
crevice, where the package might not be seen by watchful eyes ashore.

"Well, anyhow, if that boat did have to be captured by the enemy,"
remarked Smithy, just then, as if remembering something; "I'm glad I
found that stuff before it went, that's a fact, boys."

Thad turned on him in some surprise.

"Now you've got us both wondering what you mean, Smithy," he remarked;
"suppose you explain before Davy leaves us."

"Oh! I forgot to say anything about it," declared the other, in more or
less confusion; "the fact of the matter is, Thad, when I found I was
going to be your canoemate on this little adventure, I went down at
once and turned the boat over to see that it was perfectly clean. You
know it's a hobby of mine to want everything just so; and I noticed that
a little washing would improve the looks of our boat. So I took out the
false bottom that keeps heavy shoes from cutting into the thin planking;
and what do you suppose I found in the cracks below?"

He had thrust his fingers into one of his pockets, and now held up
something at which both the others stared in surprise, that gradually
deepened into dismay, on the part of Thad at least.

"Let me look at them, please, Smithy," said the scout-master, quietly;
and in response to his request the other placed in his outstretched hand
two bright new silver half dollars!

A rather queer find, to say the least, to run across under the false
bottom in a little canoe that had been secreted among the bushes
bordering this lonely sheet of water known as Lake Omega!

CHAPTER XXV.

THE SCOUT-MASTER'S SCHEME.

Smithy and the Jones boy watched their patrol lea