Wyn breathlessly told the boys to move the raft to the place to which she paddled. The other girls were excitedly asking questions but neither Wyn nor Dave answered. The captain of the Go-Aheads thought that if the raft could be held stationary--anchored in some way--directly over the sunken boat, the prize would be safe until Mr. Jarley, or somebody else in authority, came to claim the _Bright Eyes_. Of course, providing this sunken boat was she. Polly had seemed so positive, and so eager to get her father started after the motor boat he had lost, that Wyn could not understand why the Jarleys were not already on the spot. "Hey, there! what are you boys doing?" demanded one of the bateau men, hailing Dave and his friends on the raft. "Moving our float," replied the captain of the Busters, promptly. "Well, don't you git in our way," said the man, crossly. "Hel-_lo_!" exclaimed the saucy Ferd Roberts. "I've always wondered who owned Lake Honotonka, and now I know." "You'll know a whole lot more if you don't look out, Young Fresh," growled the other boatman. "I shouldn't wonder," laughed Ferd. "But I'm not going to school to _you_, Mister." "Do be quiet, Ferd," advised Dave. "Now, Wynnie! What do you say to this?" Meantime the boys had raised the two big stones that served the raft as anchors, and had poled the float near to Wyn's canoe. "Oh! a little farther, Dave, please," cried the anxious girl. "Say! I wanter know what you young ones are up to?" repeated the first boatman. "Can't you see?" returned Dave. "We're shifting our raft." "What for?" "Cat's fur! To make kittens' breeches of, 'cause we couldn't get dog fur--_now_ do you know?" snapped Ferd. "Shut up, Ferd!" commanded Dave, again. "He'd better shut up," growled the man, "or something'll happen to him--the young shrimp!" "Oh, dear me, Wyn!" cried Bessie Lavine; "let's go back to camp." "You'd all better scatter--both gels and boys," said the boatman, threateningly. "We're busy here an' we don't want to be bothered by shrimps." "I guess we'll stay a while longer, Mister," Dave said, boldly. "We were here first," cried the irrepressible Ferd. "You youngsters air in our way. Get out," commanded the Boatman. He was working the bateau nearer to the raft, using one of the long sweeps for that purpose. "Heave over the anchors again, fellows," said Dave, quietly. "Then stand by with your paddles to repel boarders. We mustn't let 'em have the raft, or move it." "Oh, Wyn!" begged Mina Everett, "let's go away." The girls had all paddled near Wyn Mallory. Now they clustered about her in plain anxiety. The boys had climbed upon the raft and all five were plainly intending to offer resistance to the ugly boatmen. "Now, girls," begged the captain of the Go-Aheads, firmly, "let us show _some_ courage, at least. The boys are willing to fight our battle----" "_Our_ battle?" gasped Bessie. "What do you mean?"