othing in the way of
oars, yet made no steam like the tugs which came up to take their
cypress shingles to market.

A number of the men had climbed aboard by this time. They stood
around, staring at the elegance to which they were unaccustomed; yet
not venturing to so much as lift a finger toward taking possession of
things. Until their leader gave the word they would refrain from
looting the captured boat. His simple word was law among the swamp
shingle-makers.

"Yuh keep asayin' as how yuh wanted tuh meet up wid me, younker," McGee
presently remarked in his deep, booming voice. "Wall, now, surpose yuh
jest up an' tells why yuh shud feel thetaway. If harf they sez 'bout
the McGee be true, they ain't nobody but a crazy men as'd want tuh run
acrost 'im."

"But I don't believe one-half of what I hear about you," said Phil.
"They warned me that it was foolish to make the try; but I kept on
saying that McGee was a fighter who never made war on boys, and he'd
listen to what I had to say, even if he didn't want to shake hands, and
call it a go."

"What's thet?" demanded the giant, suspiciously. "Yuh act like yuh
kerried sumthin' 'long wid yuh, younker?"

"So I do--a message, a letter to you, McGee!" came the quick reply.

"Then yuh'll jest hev tuh deliver it in tork, 'case I cain't read a
word. My wife, she allers wanted me tuh larn; but I sez as how 'twar
no use tuh me in my line o' work; so she gets the chillen tuh take hit
up. Tony thar kin read; an' the lettle gal she knows heaps foh a blind
chile. But speak up, younker, an' tell me who sent yuh wid the letter?"

"My father did, McGee," Phil went on, striving to keep the tremor from
his voice. "He believed that you had been deceived about him, and he
was determined that you should know him as he is, not as he has been
described to you by those who want to make trouble."

"Yuh father? Tell me, who's boy be yuh?" demanded the giant, scowling
ominously as he bent down over the young owner of the power boat.

"His name is well known to you," said Phil, boldly; "it is Doctor
Gideon Lancing, of Philadelphia."

CHAPTER XX

AMONG THE SHINGLE-MAKERS

At first Phil thought the giant was about to strike him a frightful
blow; for the hand that was free from holding the lantern doubled up
fiercely. Tony, indeed, uttered a pitiful little cry that was almost a
sob; and throwing himself forward clung to the arm of his terrible
father. But he was immedia