“But how did it happen?” interrupted Mr. Whilden, “I thought you knew how to handle a canoe.”

“I thought I did, too,” replied Frank, “but Nellie saw you on the deck and, forgetting where she was, attempted to stand up to wave her handkerchief to you, and, the next thing we knew we were all in the water.”

“I can’t thank you enough,” began Mr. Whilden, again turning to the boys.

“Not at all,” protested Rand, “we are very glad we were in time.  Come on, boys, it is time we were getting along.”

“Now,” went on Mr. Whilden, “isn’t there something I can do for you?”

“Nothing, thank you,” replied Donald.  “Now that Miss Nellie is all right—­I see that she is herself again—­we will say good-by and go on.”

“Good-by, then, and good luck,” said Mr. Whilden, “and if I can ever do anything for you, be sure and let me know.”

“I want to thank you and to know you, too,” added Frank.

“All right,” replied the boys as they pulled away from the yacht, “we shall be glad to see you anytime.”

Giving three blasts of her whistle as a farewell salute the Dart resumed her course up the river,

“Who were the boys?” asked Mrs. Whilden a little later.  “I want to reward them.”

“Why I don’t know,” replied Mr. Whilden.  “I clear forgot to get their names, after all.”

“Well, I mean to find out for my own account,” said Frank.  “They are worth knowing.”

CHAPTER VI

THE ENEMY MAKES A RAID

“You think we had better stop and see if we can catch any more fish before we go ashore?” asked Rand, when the Dart had gone.

“Why,” asked Jack, “there’s enough, ain’t there?”

“There was,” allowed Rand, “but it is a good deal later now.”

“I think we had better go on,” said Jack laughingly.  “There is a good place I can see.  That strip of beach over there is a natural landing place.”

“And a green spot back of it that would make a dandy place for a camp,” added Pepper.

“I wish we could come up here and camp,” said Jack.  “Wouldn’t it be fine?”

“I s-s-say!” cried Pepper.

“Well, s-say it,” said Donald.

“Let’s organize a patrol and come up here and camp out.”

“You hit the bullseye that time, Pepper,” cried Jack enthusiastically.

“’Twould no be a bad idea,” admitted Don.

“Ah done reckon dat am a fac’, for shuah,” drawled Rand in the negro dialect, of which he was master.

“We will get Colonel Snow to start us,” added Jack.

“Agreed!” cried the others.

“And we will see him just as soon as we go back.”

“And start the thing right away.”

Talking enthusiastically over their plans, the boys pulled the boat in to the shore.

“See that curious-looking house up there,” broke in Don.  “I didn’t know there was anybody living up here.”