CHAPTER XII. TOM TOPOVER HAS REASON TO BE ASTONISHED.
Tom Topover was a stout and wiry fellow, and he had the reputation of being the greatest fighting character in Genverres. He made a quarrel whenever he could, and he had proved a handful to several men who had been called upon to tackle him in some of his marauding exploits. With this reputation he was afraid of no one though a village policeman declared that there was more bully than fight in him.
Dory Dornwood wondered that Tom had taken the trouble to ask permission to use the boats; but as he had done so, and done it in a respectful manner, it was his duty to answer him; and the circumstances made it a very disagreeable duty. The coxswain was not a "bruiser," and he had no taste for pugilism, though, if attacked or assaulted, he was a very vigorous opponent.
"Those boats belong to Captain Gildrock," replied Dory to the request of the Topover.
"I know that, but you fellers takes care on 'em, and we only want to use 'em a few minutes while you ain't in 'em," continued Tom, in a very pliable manner for him. "We won't hurt 'em a mite, and we'll fetch 'em back jest as soon as you fellers want 'em!"
"The boats don't belong to me, and I have no right to lend them," added Dory, with a pleasant smile to soften his refusal.
"The cap'n won't say nothin' if you just let us take one of the boats for a few minutes," pleaded Tom. "You needn't tell him, and he won't know nothin' about it."
"I have no right to lend the boat, and I can't do it," persisted Dory, who had no confidence in the statements or the promises of the Topover.
"What's the reason you can't?" demanded Tom, with a little more vigor in his tones.
"I have told you the reason: the boats don't belong to me. What would you say if I should lend your hat to some fellow without your permission?"
"I shouldn't say a word; just as lief you'd do it as not," promptly returned the applicant. "I ain't stingy with what belongs to me. If them boats was mine, I'd let you have 'em all day when I wa'n't usin' 'em."
Tom Topover made this display of liberality in a tone of triumph, and he appeared to think it ought to settle the question at once. He looked as complacent and self-satisfied as though he had actually loaned the coxswain half a dozen barges every day for a week.
"I have ten dollars belonging to my uncle which he gave me to pay a bill in Burlington when I go there to-morrow," said Dory, amused but not convinced by the unselfish offer of Tom. "Do you think it would be right for me to lend that money?"
"Right? Of course it would, if any good feller like me wanted to borry it. Lend it to me, and I will pay it back next week when a man gives me twenty dollars he owes me," answered Tom glibly.
"I don't think it would be right, and I can't lend the money or the boats because they don't belong to me. You must go to Captain Gildrock if you want to borrow the boats," replied Dory, finding it was useless to argue the point with one who had no respect for the rights of property.
"You'll let us take one of the boats, won't you? I hain't got no time to go'n find Captain Gildrock," continued Tom.
"I will not let you take one of the boats," said Dory very decidedly. "I have told you I could not."
"All right! The boats don't belong to you, and 'tain't none of your business," chuckled Tom. "We'll take a little turn in the furder boat, and I'll see the cap'n arter we come back, and make it all right with him."
This seemed to be a satisfactory arrangement to Tom Topover, and he started for the wharf, followed by his companions, with the evident purpose of carrying out his idea at once.
"The boats don't belong to me, but, as you said, we have the care of them, and we can't let any one take them without Captain Gildrock's permission."
"What are you go'n to do about it?" demanded Tom, halting, and then retracing his steps to the spot where the coxswain stood. "You don't reckon I keer for you, do you?"
"I don't want to make any words about it, and I have said all I have to say," replied Dory, and he still maintained his quiet demeanor, though things began to look like an immediate battle.
"I don't want no words nuther. I'm go'n to take one of them boats, and I want to know what you are go'n to do about it," blustered Tom.
"I don't want to do anything; but the boats are in the care of our fellows, and we are responsible for them. If you meddle with them, I shall be obliged to call the crews, who are here in the grove," replied the coxswain.
"Call the crews, will you?" said Tom, clenching his fists and siding up towards Dory.
"There's two or three fellers comin' down here," interposed Kidd Digfield.
"You 'n' Nim Splugger look out for 'em, and I'll polish off this chap," replied Tom, as he glanced into the grove, where he saw Matt Randolph and Oscar Chester approaching. "Them boats don't belong to you, and 'tain't none of your business who takes 'em. I'll bet you don't call no crews nuther," continued Tom, assuming a decidedly belligerent attitude.
"I have nothing more to say," returned Dory, bracing himself up in readiness to meet whatever might come.
"All right if you hain't; and I hain't got much more to say; only if you try to call them crews, you'll wish you'd been born deef and dumb," added Tom, savagely, and enforcing his threat with a flourish of his dirty fists. "Come back, Kid, and be in a hurry," he shouted to his companions he had sent to look out for Matt and Oscar, who were still too far off to see what was transpiring near the wharf.
Tom Topover started at a smart run for the wharf, closely followed by his three companions. He had evidently changed his tactics all of a sudden, and concluded not to fight any battle. The haste displayed indicated that they were hurrying to get into the boats before any of the crew could arrive. Dory comprehended the situation at once, and blew a long pipe on the boatswain's whistle, which woke the echoes of the quiet grove.
"Git into them boats!" shouted Tom Topover, to the companions he had left at the wharf. "Untie 'em, and pick up the oars!"
The Topover intended to get possession of the boats while it was possible to do so, and not lose any time in thrashing Dory, which he regarded as an easy matter, a mere form. He had called his crew with the whistle, and Matt, as soon as he heard it, had blown his own pipe. He and Oscar had by this time got an idea that something was wrong, and were running with all their speed towards the wharf.
Dory was not content with merely blowing his whistle, and, as soon as he saw what Tom meant to do, he ran after him. There were about a dozen Topovers, as nearly as he could judge, but he did not stop to ask himself what he should do alone against such a host. The leader of the young ruffians was not as fleet of foot as the three companions who had attended him to the grove, and they reached the wharf when he had accomplished about two thirds of the distance.
"Hurry up, Pell Sankland!" shouted Kidd when he came to the wharf, though the one called was not far ahead of Tom.
Kidd Digfield appeared to be the second in power and influence of the party, and he gave orders enough when he reached the vicinity of the pier to confuse and confound those who had obtained a footing in the boats. There were five in one barge and four in the other. They had already cast off the painters, and hauled the boats up to the side of the wharf.
"Let the boats alone!" shouted Dory, when he had nearly overtaken Tom Topover.
"What are you go'n to do about it?" demanded Tom, halting, and facing about.
"Those fellows must not meddle with the boats," answered the coxswain, and he was not disposed to stop to parley with the chief ruffian.
"'Tain't none of your bread and butter; you said so yourself," interposed Tom, stepping in front of Dory with clenched fists to bar his further advance.
The coxswain was not disposed to waste any time in words with Tom, and he attempted to pass him by dodging to one side, but the ruffian threw himself upon him, seizing him by his coat collar. This was an act of violence, and it roused the lion in Dory's nature. He shook off the grasp of his assailant without any difficulty, for if he was not as quick as lightning, he was about as near it as a boy of his weight could be. Once more he attempted to pass his assailant, but Tom got in front of him again.
"If you want to fight, come on!" foamed the Topover, as he put himself into the order of battle.
"I don't want to fight, but I shall defend myself," replied Dory. "Out of my way!"
Instead of taking himself out of the coxswain's path, Tom aimed a blow at Dory's head. The ruffian might as well have pitched into the sea-serpent or a royal Bengal tiger as into Dory Dornwood. He was rather smaller than his assailant, but he had learned the art of self-defence of a Burlington barber, who had formerly been a teacher of the "science." His frame seemed to be made of steel wire. He had brains and great dexterity of movement. Abundant exercise in boats and other training had fully developed his powers, and every student in the Beech Hill Industrial School knew that he was a terribly "hard hitter."
The coxswain easily parried the blow aimed at him with his left hand, and planted a sledgehammer hit with his right in Tom's face. The Topover went just where Oscar Chester had gone on a similar occasion at Plattsburg—on the ground, flat on his back. Doubtless the leader of the young ruffians was greatly astonished, not to say confounded, at this unexpected reception, for his historical studies had been neglected, and he had never heard of the Battle of Plattsburg, at least the particular one to which we refer.
Dory did not think it necessary to push the battle any farther at the present moment, though Tom instantly sprang to his feet, in spite of some confusion in his ideas. With one eye on his assailant, Dory retreated a few steps, and then resumed his march on the wharf.
"Hold on! I hain't licked you yet, and I'm go'n to do it afore I get through," said Tom, moving towards his intended victim.
"I can't wait for you to do it now," replied Dory, as he broke into a run.
But Tom began to swear like a pirate, and rushed after Dory. The latter had no difficulty in keeping out of his way, and he reached the wharf just as the villains in the boats had shoved them clear of the pier. Kidd had put six of the party in each barge, and they had manned the oars. But they had been obliged to leave their leader behind.
Tom Topover now observed this bit of strategy, and he divided his vials of wrath between the coxswain and his lieutenant.