apart with a long boat-hook. Then the rudder of the Falcon was
put hard a port, and she swung, away for a distance of half a
dozen yards.

"We are sinking!" gasped Tom, who was the first of the three
brothers to find his voice.

"Mumps, you rascal, what do you mean by this work?" demanded
Dick. And then, without waiting for an answer, he turned to Sam.
"Steer for the shore and beach her -- if you can."

"I don't believe we can make it, Dick. But we can try."

"We'll have you locked up for this, Mumps," shouted Tom.

"I couldn't help It -- it was an accident," returned the former
sneak of Putnam Hall glibly. "You should have kept out of the
way."

"We'll see about that later on."

"Maybe you want us to help you."

"We shan't ask you for the favor," burst out Sam. "I'd rather
drown first." But Sam did not exactly mean this. He and his
brothers could all swim, and he felt certain that they were in no
immediate danger of their lives.

"You had better not ask any favors. I wouldn't pick you up for a
barrel of money."