of livin', or kin he
breathe under water like a fish?"

"He's a stout hearted chap," cried Mose Hocker, "and sense his mind's
bent on takin' a good long dive I reckon he kin have the boat. There
ain't no undercurrent out there as I know of, so he ain't likely to come
to harm, and besides I'm mighty anxious to git my gun back."

Here Mr. Hocker winked slyly at Daddy Perkiss and the fishermen.

The old man failed to appreciate the joke.

"It's temptin' Providence," he cried shrilly, pounding his cane on the
beach. "If you ever sees that weapon agin, Mose Hocker, I'll give you
ten pounds of the best plug terbacker that Bill Smith has in his store."

"That's a bargain," exclaimed Mose. "You fellows can testify to what he
said."

Then turning to Randy he added with a laugh, "Don't fail me now, lad.
Ten pounds of terbacker ain't picked up every day."

"Just give me a fair show and I'll astonish you all before long,"
replied Randy, moving toward the boat. "Ned, will you go with me?" he
added.

Ned willingly agreed, much to the amazement of Clay and Nugget, who
expected him to oppose Randy's project with all his might. The truth of
the matter was that Ned, being a sensible fellow, shared Randy's view,
and was rather anxious to see the tables turned on the credulous
rustics.

He was satisfied from the smooth and sluggish appearance of the water
that a dive would not be attended with danger.

In some unaccountable manner the news seemed to have spread through the
neighborhood, and when Ned and Randy embarked, the crowd had been
augmented by three men and two bare-footed urchins. A wagon containing
two farmers had stopped at the entrance of the bridge, and the occupants
were tying the horse preparatory to coming down.

Mose Hocker's boat was a large, heavy craft, built on the order of a
bateau, and was admirably adapted to Randy's purpose. The boys paddled
up stream a little until they were directly below the rock Hocker had
designated. Then, while the boat drifted down with a barely perceptible
motion, Randy hastily undressed.

"It's a pity we didn't bring a fishing line along," observed Ned. "I
could ascertain the depth for you in a minute."

"We don't need it," replied Randy. "I was never in better wind than I am
now. If there's a bottom at all I'll find it."

The boat was now one hundred feet below the rock, and a stroke or two of
Ned's paddle put it in line with the big buttonwood tree on the right
shore.