“It cost me a hundred dollars,” answered Charles, “and I’ve killed bears and deer with it, many a time, as far as across this river here.”

Charles did not hesitate to say this, for he was talking only to “simple-minded country boys,” as he called them, and he supposed he could say what he pleased and they would believe it.  His auditors, who before had been hardly able to contain themselves, were now almost bursting with laughter.  Frank and George, however, managed to draw on a sober face, while Harry turned away his head and stuffed his handkerchief into his mouth.

“I tell you,” continued Charles, not noticing the condition his hearers were in, “I’ve seen some pretty tough times in my life.  Once, when I was hunting in the Adirondack Mountains, in the northern part of Michigan, I was attacked by Indians, and came very near being captured, and the way I fought was a caution to white folks.  This little rifle came handy then, I tell you.  But I must hurry along now; I promised to go riding with the old man this afternoon.”

And he dipped the oars into the water, and the little boat shot rapidly up the river.  It was well that he took his departure just as he did, for our three boys could not possibly have contained themselves a moment longer.  They could not wait for him to get out of sight, but, lying back in the boat, they laughed until the tears rolled down their cheeks.

“Well, Frank, what do you think of him?” inquired Harry, as soon as he could speak.

“I think the less we have to do with him the better,” answered Frank.

“I did think,” said Harry, stopping now and then to indulge in a hearty fit of laughter, “that there might be some good things about him; but a boy that can tell such whopping big lies as he told must be very small potatoes.  Only think of catching three hundred fish in less than half an hour, and with only one hook and line!  Why, that would be ten every minute, and that is as many as two men could manage.  And then for him to talk about that pop-gun of his shooting as far as across this river!—­why, it’s a mile and a half—­and I know it wouldn’t shoot forty rods, and kill.  But the best of all was his hunting among the Adirondack Mountains, in Michigan, and having to defend himself against the Indians; that’s a good joke.”

And Harry laid back in the boat again, and laughed and shouted until his sides ached.

“He must be a very ungrateful fellow,” said Frank, at length.  “Didn’t you notice how disrespectfully he spoke of his father?  He called him his ‘old man.’  If I had a father, I’d never speak so lightly of him.”

“Yes, I noticed that,” said George.  “But,” he continued, reaching for the basket which Harry, after helping himself most bountifully, had placed on the middle seat, “I’m hungry as blazes, and think I can do justice to the good things mother has put up for us.”

After eating their dinner they got out their fishing-tackle again; but the perch had stopped biting, and, after waiting patiently for half an hour without feeling a nibble, they unjointed their poles, drew up the anchor, and Frank seated himself at the helm, while George and Harry took the oars and pulled toward home.