"Well, we can't talk about those people now," said Dick. "We're
in a mess and must get out of it the best way we can. As you are
an old boatman, what would you advise us to do?"

"Come ashore with me and then get Dan Haskett to take your boat
in charge and fix her up. He can stop that leak somehow and pump
her out and have her all right inside of twenty-four hours."

"Where can we find this Haskett?"

"Come into my boat and I'll take you to him."

The rowboat was now close at hand, and one after another the
Rover boys stowed themselves away in the craft. Then Martin
Harris took up the oars and started for the river bank. He
turned down the stream a bit and landed them at an old dock over
which hung the sign: "Daniel Haskett, Boat Builder and Repairer
jobs Promptly Attended to -- Charges Small."

Dan Haskett proved to be an elderly man, who was somewhat deaf,
and it took the boys some time to make him understand the
situation.

"We've had a smash-up," began Dick.

"Cash up?" said the deaf man. "Cash UP to what?"

"We've had a smash-up!" repeated the boy in a louder tone. "We
want our boat mended."