“It’s no use to call names: they won’t hurt anybody,” growled Matt, who could not see why his crony should turn against him. “You’ve licked Wade Brooks times enough to know how to do it; and I don’t think it is fair for two of us to set on one fellow.” “Not fair, you ninny!” exclaimed Lon, slapping the face of his companion in crime. “What are you hitting me for? I haven’t touched you. You needn’t lick me because you can’t lick Wade,” whined Matt. “I’ve got about enough of this thing.” “I’ll bet they are looking for you at home about this time,” interposed Wade; “and the best thing you can do is to go back before you’ve made the matter any worse.” “I’ve half a mind to do it,” replied Matt, who was so much injured in his feeling by the blow of Lon, that he could not help crying. “I’m not going off to New York with Lon, to be kicked and slapped as if I wasn’t nobody.” “Shut up, Matt!” said Lon sharply. “What do you mean by telling him what we are going to do?” “I’m not going to do any thing, if I’m to be treated in this way.” “Keep still,” continued Lon in a gentler tone. “I was mad, and I didn’t mean any thing. Don’t mind it, Matt, and I won’t do it again.” It was a great deal for Lon to say any thing in the shape of an apology; and the insulted Matt was appeased at once. He wanted to go to New York; and he did not like the idea of going home to take the consequences of setting the barn on fire. Lon seated himself opposite his companion in crime, as though he had concluded that it was best to suspend hostilities, at least for the present. “I didn’t sleep much last night, and I was out of temper when I got up,” said Lon, who was willing to make peace, even with Wade Brooks, rather than give up the expedition, as he was afraid that Matt might be persuaded to do; and he had all the money, so it was not possible to go without him. “I don’t see what made you turn on me,” replied Matt, wiping the tears from his eyes. “I didn’t mean to do it. The sight of Wade Brooks here in the boat with us made me mad. But perhaps it is all for the best. Wade knows how to sail a boat better than I do; and he will do that for us.” “No, I won’t,” replied Wade squarely. “How came you in the boat, Wade?” asked Matt, as it occurred to him that this matter had not yet been cleared up. “I came on board of her to sleep after the fire,” replied Wade, who was willing to tell all he knew about almost any subject. “What did you want to sleep in the boat for? Why couldn’t you sleep in your own bed in the house?” “There was a good reason for it.” Wade considered a moment; and then he concluded to tell the whole story. “What was the reason?” asked Matt.