“Why didn’t you do it and get rid of him?” asked Pepper.

“It would more likely have got rid of us,” replied Rand; “and I guess that is what he was trying to do.”

CHAPTER XX

A NIGHT ALARM

“Who’s there?” called Rand sharply.  He was sitting with Donald and Pepper on the steps of the piazza, in front of Mr. Scott’s house.

“There is nobody there,” declared Donald; “it’s just your imagination.”

“But I certainly saw something move behind that bush over there,” insisted Rand.

“And I, too,” confirmed Pepper.

“You are always seeing things, even when there ain’t any,” continued Donald.

“And you can’t see them until they hit you with a club,” retorted Pepper.

“Any one there?” called Rand again, going to the spot which Pepper pointed out, and followed by the others.

“Sh!” was the whispered reply from behind the bushes.  “It is only I.”

“Who are you?” demanded Rand.

“Win Moore,” replied a small boy, coming out.

“Why, hello, Win,” said Rand; “what were you trying to do, play spook?”

“No,” replied Win, “but I thought maybe Gerald was here.”

“He isn’t here,” answered Rand.  “Do you want to see him?”

“Yes,” hesitated Win; “I have something to tell him.”

“I am sorry he isn’t here,” continued Rand.  “Anything I can do for you?”

“There isn’t any one around, is there?” went on Win doubtfully.

“Nobody but Pepper, Don and I,” replied Rand.  “You know them.  What is it?”

“They are going to smash the shell to-night,” whispered Win, looking fearfully about him.

“They are going to do what?” exclaimed Donald.

“Say it again,” said Rand, doubting that he had heard aright.

“They are going to smash the shell to-night, so you can’t row to-morrow,” repeated Win.

“Who are?” demanded Donald, still incredulous.

“Monkey Rae and Sam Tompkins,” answered Win.

“How do you know?” asked Pepper.

“I heard them planning,” explained Win.  “I was up in the woods to-day and I heard some one talking, and I listened to hear who it was.”

“What did they say?”

“Monkey said he guessed there’d be a surprise party here in the morning, when you found you didn’t have any boat to row with.  Sam asked how they could do it, and Monkey said they would go down to the boathouse to-night, after it got dark, and fix it.  Sam didn’t want to go very much, but Monkey said it was all right, and nobody would know who did it.”

“Do you think he meant our shell?”

“Sure,” replied Win.  “He said he was going to get square with Rand Peyton and Pepper Blake.  So I hid in the bushes until they went away, and I came down here to tell Gerald.”

“Thank you, Win,” said Rand; “we are ever so much obliged to you.”