“There! You’ve said enough!” responded the man. “I’ll not take any more of your insults! You’re on my land and I order you off. What’s more, if you threaten me again I’ll tie you up and take you before a justice of the peace! Now move on!”
Mr. Carter looked so angry, and so much in earnest, that, big bully as he was, Noddy was frightened. He muttered something below his breath but he moved off Mr. Carter’s land, and on to the edge of the swamp which constituted the “cocoanut grove” of which he had boasted.
“Come on, boys,” said Jerry in a low voice. “If we stay here we may get involved in some trouble with Noddy. He doesn’t want our aid, and I’m glad of it. I’d hate to take him into our boat. Let’s leave him alone.”
They started away.
“I’ll fix you for following me!” exclaimed Noddy as he saw the three chums leaving him. “I’ll get even with you!”
“I hope he comes to his senses soon,” remarked Mr. Carter, as he walked toward the village with the three chums. “He is very hot tempered. He arrived in town a few days ago and created quite a stir by talking about the big cocoanut grove he had come to claim. When he found out that it was only a swamp that the swindlers had worked off on him he wanted to get my land, saying a mistake had been made. For several days he’s been seeking to lay claim to my grove, one of the few near here, until I got tired of his foolishness. Do you know much about him?”
Jerry told Mr. Carter enough of Noddy to make that gentleman understand what sort of a youth the Cresville bully was. Mr. Carter said he was sorry for him, but that he could not afford to give up his land because Noddy had been fooled.
Learning that the chums were in no particular hurry, Mr. Carter invited them up to his house. He gave them a lunch and brought out some fresh cocoanuts, in a green state, which is when they are at their best for eating. He called one of his negro helpers and told him to open some of the nuts for the boys.
The negro set up in the ground a stake, sharpened on the end. Then, holding the nut, encased in its husky fibrous covering in both hands, he brought it down on the point of the stick with a slanting motion. The sharp point cut through the husk in an instant and the nut was exposed. Then the end was chopped off with a big knife and the interior, consisting of “milk” and soft pulp, was ready to eat.
“I never knew cocoanuts were so good!” exclaimed Bob, as he tackled his fourth one, for they did not eat the rind or hard white part.