"Sneak away!" blustered Merwell. "Not at all—we were only taking a short cut; ain't that so, Nick?"
"Sure," answered Jasniff, loudly. "We don't have to sneak away from anybody."
"We've a good mind to give you both a sound thrashing," cried Phil, angrily. "You had no business to touch our boat."
"And you had no business to talk about us to Miss Feversham and Miss Rockwell," added the senator's son.
"See here, you let us pass!" muttered Merwell. "Don't you dare to lay your fingers on us!" And he tried to edge to one side.
"See here, both of you," said Dave, sternly. "I want to give you a final warning. You have been talking about us; I know it, and it is useless for you to deny it. Now I want you to understand this: If you say another word against me, or against Phil or Roger, I'll see to it that you are exposed to every student at Rockville Academy."
"You won't dare!" cried Jasniff. His voice trembled a little as he spoke.
"I will dare, Nick Jasniff. I know what you are—and I know what Link Merwell is—and I don't propose to stand any more of your underhanded work. Now you have your last warning,—and if you are wise you'll heed it."
"Say, do you want to fight?" roared Jasniff, coming forward, and sticking his chin close to Dave's face.
"I can defend myself, Jasniff,—even when a fellow tried to take a foul advantage of me, as you did that time in the gym."