Instantly Merry lifted his rifle and covered the man in the water.
“Take your hand away from that pocket!” he cried. “If you don’t, I’ll drop you for good! I can shoot first.”
The ruffian hesitated, and then he saw by the expression on the boy’s face that he really meant to shoot, and, snarling like a wild beast, he obeyed the command.
“You shall pay for this!” he howled.
“Come ashore,” commanded Frank, still holding his rifle ready to shoot. “Step lively, there!”
Sullenly Dugan waded out and climbed the bank.
“You couldn’t hit anything, anyhow,” he muttered.
“Show him that card, Browning,” directed Frank.
Bruce did so, telling how far Merriwell had shot in cutting out the five spots upon the card.