“That wouldn’t be anything, compared with having to do without our canoe,” Dick returned.

“Maybe not,” Driggs conceded.  “Now, boys, is there much of that birch bark on Katson’s Hill?”

“There must be several shiploads,” Dave Darrin replied.

“Good enough.  Then, see here.  I’ll take this job at twenty dollars, if you boys will get the birch bark.  After you’ve brought in enough to patch the canoe then you can bring in enough more to amount to twenty dollars.  Is that a go?”

“It’s wonderfully kind of you,” Dick answered gratefully.

“Not much it isn’t,” Driggs grinned, “and it will make that young Ripley cub feel mighty sore and cheap when he finds that he was the only one who got ‘skinned’ at this auction.  But before you get through cutting and hauling birch bark you may think I’m a pretty hard taskmaster.  I’ll call it a go, if you boys will.”

“We’ll pay our full debt, Mr. Driggs, and pay you a load of thanks besides.”

“All right,” nodded Driggs, jumping down off the truck, in haste to get away from the embarrassment of being thanked.  “Some of you just hang around here until my man, Jim Snowden, gets up here with the truck.  After Jim starts away with your war canoe then you can leave the rest to me, except cutting and hauling several loads of birch bark to square up matters.”

Driggs beat a hasty retreat now.  When he had gone the members of Dick & Co. exchanged glances.  Then Holmes began to dance his best idea of a jig.

“We’ll have that bonfire at eight o’clock tonight, Greg,” Dick reminded him with a smile.

“Will you?” demanded Greg, scowling fiercely.  “If any of you fellows have any matches, then just keep away from that canoe, or I’ll fight.  We can’t afford to take any risks.  Whoop!”

“Whoop!” answered Harry Hazelton, standing on his head.

“Whoop!” echoed Dave Darrin, giving Danny Grin a playful punch that sent Dalzell sprawling.

They were as happy a lot of boys as one could wish to see.  They were to have their canoe and all the sport that that meant.  It was to be a safe craft—–­as good as new!  For Hiram Driggs was a dependable and skilful boat builder.

“Hey, too bad you fellows got stung so fearfully,” cried a grammar school boy in passing.  “I’m mighty sorry.”

“Thank you,” Dick answered.  “But we’re going to have the canoe repaired.  We’ll be having lots of fun in the war canoe after a few days.”

“How you going to get her fixed?” asked the other boy.

“Hiram Driggs has taken the job, and you know what he can do with boats.”

“Whee!  I’m glad on you’re going to have the canoe fixed all right,” nodded the other boy, and passed on.

Forty-five minutes after Driggs’ departure Jim Snowden came up with the truck.  With the help of the boys he loaded the canoe from the other truck, then started away.