at the first quitting time. These two boys, Jimmie, and Dick, stood
by the new lad, and gave three or four of the tough little chaps who
work on the breaker a good beating up."

"Now we've got hold of something!" exclaimed Will. "Were these three
boys together much after that?"

"No," was the reply. "The new boy thanked Jimmie and Dick for helping
him through his scrape, and that was about all. They might have
talked together for five minutes that night, but they were never seen
in each other's company again so far as I know."

"How long did this new boy stay here?" asked George.

"He quit the next day."

"He didn't go up in a pillar of fire, did he?" grinned Sandy.

"No, he walked up to the office and asked if he could get his pay for
the time he had worked. The boss told him he'd have to wait until
Saturday night, and he turned up his nose and walked out."

"And where did he go?" asked George.

"He said he was going down the river in a boat," answered the
caretaker. "He bought an old boat, stocked it with quite a supply of
provisions, and started on his way. The next day the boat was found
bottom side up on a bar, and the lad's hat lay on the bank not far
away."