“They haven’t paid me for the use of my boat, either,” complained the old boatman. “That’s what started the row here. They said they would pay me right after the races.”
“I’ll bet I know why they didn’t pay up,” broke out Andy, with a grin. “Most likely they lost all their pocket money betting the wrong way.”
“Hi, you shut up, Rover! You make me sick!” cried Tommy Flanders, glaring at Andy sullenly.
A wordy war followed, lasting several minutes. Then Nat Durgin walked to where his motor-boat was tied up and sprang aboard the craft.
“You fellows pay me what you owe me or I’ll have the law on you,” he called out, and then he added to the boys from Colby Hall: “Much obliged to you fellows for what you done for me.”
“Hi! Wait!” cried Halliday. “You’ve got to take us across the lake!”
“I won’t take you nowhere,” bellowed Nat Durgin. “I’m done with you! But you’ve got to pay me what you owe me or I’ll do what I said before—I’ll have the law on you,” and with this parting shot he started up his motor and moved slowly away.
“Now see what you did!” cried Billy Sands in anger, as he faced the Colby Hall cadets. “How are we going to get back to school? All the other boats have left.”
“That’s your affair, not ours,” answered Jack. And then he continued as he stepped closer to the trio of discontents. “My cousins and I ought to give the whole three of you a sound thrashing.”