lad were slow about
launching the boat, the affair might have ended seriously. But just at
that time Randy came paddling up the creek in his canoe, and spied the
drifting figures.

He was soon alongside, and as the stern of the Water Sprite swung toward
them, Ned and his companion each threw an arm over it.

Then Randy paddled for the shore, and landed about sixty feet below the
rocks.

Clay and the other stranger reached the spot in the boat just as Ned and
the lad he had so nobly rescued, waded out on the beach. The latter
shook the water from his clothes and hesitatingly approached Ned.

"I dunno' how to thank you for what you did," he said sheepishly. "I'm
mighty sorry I hit that chap. Me and Joe were downright mad because
you'uns were fishing thar in our place. You see we come here from the
mountains every now and then, and ketch a lot of bass, and sell 'em back
at Newville. I reckon it ain't our place anyhow, an' you'uns can fish
thar as much as you please. My name is Jim Batters--Batters they allus
calls me--and that's my brother Joe there."

"I'm glad to know you, Batters," said Ned, holding out his hand. "You
are welcome to your fishing ground. We are going away to-morrow anyhow.
As for the quarrel--we'll just let that drop. You had better go up to
camp now and dry your clothes."

Batters was not satisfied, however, until he had apologized all around,
and made Joe do the same. Nugget had arrived by this time, and he
declared that his arm no longer pained him.

Then the whole party went up the creek, some on water and some on land.
The two mountaineers were tall, lanky youths with expressionless faces,
surrounded by shocks of yellow hair.

They wore homespun clothes and high boots. They were speedily on
intimate terms with Jolly Rovers, and gladly accepted Ned's invitation
to dinner. They asked many curious questions, and lost themselves in
admiration over the canoes.

Ned told them about the nocturnal visitors of the previous night, and
inquired if they had seen anything of the men. Both stoutly replied in
the negative, but a swift, covert glance that passed between them did
not escape Ned's attention.

During the remainder of the day he remembered it more than once. When
dinner was over they all went down to the rocks, and Batters and Joe
proudly displayed their skill at fishing. In two hours they caught
fifteen large bass. For bait they used crabs and lizards, which they had
brought from the moun