We knew it would be pretty easy going after we got across the river. But getting across the river, that was the question. We knew well enough that we couldn't swim straight across on account of the tide running out. It would have carried us downstream. The river isn't very wide there and it isn't much of a swim across, only if we tried it we'd land east of our course. Westy said, "We're up against it now. What are we going to do?" "If we wait till the tide is full," Hunt said, "we'll have to sit around here till about eleven o'clock to-night." I said, "Do you suppose the rope would reach across?" "Sure it would," Dorry answered, "only how are we going to get it across?" "Throw it," Pee-wee said. "And what will hold it there?" I asked him. "Besides, what good is the rope as long as we haven't got our bathing suits? You don't expect us to walk on the rope, do you?" "Oh, here comes a boat!" Dorry shouted. "See it? It's just coming around the bend. There are two men in it." "Are they nice men?" I asked him. "What are you talking about?" Pee-wee shouted. "They're a quarter of a mile away!" I said, "That wouldn't prevent them from being nice men. Your uncle is all the way over in Europe and he's a nice man." "All I can see is their backs," Westy said. I said, "Well, as far as I can tell from their backs they look as if they might be nice men. Maybe we can get them to carry the end of the rope across and fasten it on the other side." "Yes, and what will we do then?" the kid wanted to know. "Then we'll say 'thank you,'" I told him. "Yes, and what then?" I said, "Why, then we'll ask them to row us across keeping the boat close to the rope. They could never row straight across with the tide running this way." "I don't see why the tide has to be running out just now," Hunt said. "Neither do I," I said; "especially as it's just going to turn around and come right in again. It might as well stay in. It goes to a lot of trouble for nothing. We should worry." Pretty soon the boat was nearly opposite us, and I shouted, "Hey, Mister, will you give us a lift across?" Pee-wee whispered to me, "I know who that front man is; he's a detective. You better look out how you speak to him. That's Detective Pinchem." As soon as the kid spoke I saw that he was right. I shouted, "Hey, Mister Pinchem, will you give us a lift across? We're lost, strayed or stranded." The men in the boat started for the shore and Mr. Pinchem called, "Hello, you scouts, what are you doing here?" I said, "We've got as much right here as this river has. It's in our way and we want to get across." [Illustration: "WE'VE GOT AS MUCH RIGHT HERE AS THIS RIVER HAS, AND WANT TO GET ACROSS." (Page 68)] Pee-wee whispered to me very anxious-like, "You better look out how you talk to him, he's a detective. He can arrest us if he wants to." Westy said, "Why should we be afraid? We haven't taken anything."