"We will meet you and make an explanation," Frank shouted back. The two lads began riding along the shore of the cove, and the big man moved to meet them, regarding them with no little suspicion. They finally met at the head of the cove, where the giant stood, with folded arms, scowling blackly at them. A short distance away two dust-covered horses were standing, hitched to trees, their heads hanging low, while they still breathed heavily. They were the animals abandoned by the man and girl. "Ef you youngsters want ter steal anything, ye'd best mosey outer this yar part uv ther kentry," growled the big man, sullenly. "First it's a gang uv pleasure seekers thet comes an' takes my sailboat, then it's a man an' gal thet kerries off my canoe, an' next it's two boys as ain't got anything yit, but looks like they want something." "We do," palpitated Frank. "We want some kind of a boat in which to follow those people--the man and the girl." "Wa-al, yer won't git it." "We will pay you--we have plenty of money." "Ter thunder with yer money! What duz Gabe Blake want uv money! All I want is ter be let alone. Ther fust crowd promised me money fer my boat, but I told 'em ter take her an' bring her back before night. They took her, an' I ain't seen hide ner ha'r uv 'em sense. Ther man an' ther gal took my canoe without askin' leave." "They left those horses----" "Burn their hawses! What do I want uv hawses! Hawses ain't no good harabouts. Ther fust gang left four hawses, an' I've got ther critters ter feed. Hyar's two more! Burn ther hawses!" It was plain the giant was in anything put a pleasant frame of mind. He scowled blackly at the boys. "If you will furnish us with a boat----" began Frank. "Ain't got no more boats. Can't go out fishin'. An' I'm too blamed lazy ter build another boat. Built ther sailboat an' canoe afore I got lazy livin' hyar. Man thet lives hyar six weeks gits too blamed lazy ter work. What 'm I goin' ter do when I want ter go out fishin'?" Bart Hodge made a gesture of dismay. "Do you know where we can get a boat?" he asked. "Thar's none round hyar." "Then we cannot follow that man and girl?" "Not 'less yer kin walk on ther water." "It's hard luck," declared Frank. "I did not believe they would be able to slip us." "What did yer want uv 'em?" asked the big man, his curiosity getting the better of his anger. Frank dismounted. "Might as well get off and give the horses a breathing spell, Bart," he said. "They are blowed." "But the party pursuing us--what of them?" "Let them come." "Are you going to give up thus easily?" "No; but I am not going to run like a criminal. Why should I? Let them come." "You do not mean to fight?" "Not if a regular officer attempts my arrest." "What they goin' ter arrest yer fer, youngster?" asked the man, becoming still more curious. "Hev yer bin stealin' hawses?" "No." "Wa-al, yer needn't tell ef yer don't want ter!" resentfully said the giant. "I don't keer."