"Not much!" growled the former bully of Putnam Hall.
"You had better come," said Sam. "If you don't come we'll bring you."
"Hush, Sam, or you'll make a mess of things!" cried Dick softly, but the warning came too late.
"Will you bring me back?" roared the bully. "Just try it on and see how I'll fix you."
"Come on for the boat," said Tom. "We'll show him he can't scare us."
He started off and Dick came after him. Sam was also about to follow, when his elder brother stopped him.
"You can't do much with that sore wrist, Sam," he said. "Better stay with the girls until we come back. You can watch events from the shore, and run for assistance, if it's necessary."
Sam demurred at first, but soon saw the wisdom of Dick's reasoning and consented to remain behind.
By this time Tom had shoved out the rowboat Dick had mentioned—a neat craft belonging to a farmer living near. A pair of oars lay in a locker on the lake bank; and, securing these, Tom leaped on board of the craft, and soon Dick came after.
Dan Baxter had watched their movement with interest, which speedily gave way to arm when he saw the other boat come out, and beheld Dick and Tom each take up an oar and begin to pull for all they could.