CHAPTER II
THE MYSTERIOUS SLOOP
The attack had come so unexpectedly that for the moment Dan Baxter did not know what to do. In a dazed fashion he sat up, and finally scrambled to his feet. Mumps, the toady and sneak, gazed at Jack Ruddy in wonder.
“You’ll catch it for that!” he cried. “Dan Baxter’ll most kill you!”
“He has got to spell able first,” murmured Jack.
“See here, what did you do that for?” spluttered Dan Baxter, when he could collect himself sufficiently to speak.
“I told you this was none of your affair!” answered Jack. “After this you attend to your own business, and I’ll attend to mine.”
“I told you to let up on Mumps.”
“Well, you are not my master, Baxter.”
“Mumps is under my protection.”
“What you mean is, that he is one of your toadies.”