"W---we ar---are not burglars!" spluttered Carl. "We are---"

"Do---don't sh---shoot!" wailed Ham Spink. "We di---didn't mean---"

Bang! went the shotgun Snap had picked up. He fired at the corner
of the building, into a mass of rubbish. A piercing yell of terror
came up from below, and down dropped Ham and Carl into the water
once more. They were too afraid to come up under the boathouse
again and so struck out for the river bank some distance away.

"They are going away!" called out Shep. "They are two desperate
burglars! Give them another shot!"

"Perhaps they have been robbing some stores," called out Snap.
Then he discharged the shotgun once more, and down ducked Ham
and Carl again, yelling wildly in their fright. They swam with
energy and soon reached the shelter of another boathouse. Here
they crawled from the water and took to their legs with all the
speed at their command. Both were frightened nearly out of their
wits, and for the time being paid no attention to the foul-smelling
paste and mud that covered them.

"They---they thought we were thi---thieves!" panted Carl, after
he and his crony had covered several blocks.

"Yes, and we came near being shot dead!" added Ham.

"I didn't know they were going to stay there to-night."