guess the laugh will be on you and Sam --"

"We'll call it quits," answered Tom hurriedly.

"They're all nice girls, eh, Sam?"

"To be sure. But, I say, hadn't we best keep out of old
Crabtree's way?"

"I don't know as it's necessary," said Dick.

"I'm not afraid of him, I'm sure."

"Oh, neither am I, if you are going to put it that way," answered
the youngest Rover.

"If he's stopping here I'm going to have some fun with him,"
grinned Tom.

The evening meal was soon finished, and the boys took a stroll
around the grounds. They were just on the point of retiring when
Dick drew his brothers' attention to a figure that was stealing
through a nearby grove of trees.

"There goes Crabtree."

"I wonder where he is going," mused Sam. "Where does that path
lead to?"

"Down to the river," came from Tom. And then he added suddenly: