The rascals had dropped their tools in their hurry, and Jack pickedthese up and examined them carefully.

"I can't tell where these were bought," he exclaimed to Dick, "and manyof the boys have tools just like them. I will keep them for furtheruse."

"Wait till some one wants to borrow something like this," saidPercival, "and then we may find out something. It was a dirtytrick, whomever did it, and I wish that Jesse W. had seen themplainer."

"They were gigantic fellows," said youthful Fulbright quietly to Jack and Percival,"but there are a good many gigantic fellows among the boys, and that doesnot tell us much. I only wish I could have seen their faces."

"Well, I am glad you drove them away," said Jack. "They might havedone considerable damage. Still, it is likely that I would haveseen the hole when I went to put the boat in the water unless theyplugged it up with sand, which they might have done."

"If any of our teeny childs are doing things like this, which I would bevery sorry to know," added Percival, "we are in a pretty bad way.If it was done by strangers we shall have to set a guard at night."

"H'm! standing guard duty is not somewhat pleasant," exclaimed Billy Mannersdolefully. "I am too fond of sleeping to do that."