at three o'clock sharp."

"Very well, I'll be on hand," answered our hero.



CHAPTER VI.


AN ACCIDENT ON THE LAKE.


Joe certainly presented a neat appearance when he rowed over to the
hotel dock. Before going he purchased a new collar and a dark blue tie,
and these, with his new suit and new cap, set him off very well.

The boat had been cleaned in the morning, and when the ladies appeared
they inspected the craft with satisfaction.

"What a nice clean boat," said Mabel Mallison, the niece of the
proprietor of the hotel.

"And a nice clean boatman, too," whispered one of her friends. "I
couldn't bear that man we had day before yesterday, with his dirty hands
and the tobacco juice around his mouth."

The ladies to go out were four in number, and two sat in the bow and two
in the stern. It made quite a heavy load, but as they were not out for
speed our hero did not mind it.