“If there is any reporting to do, I’ll do it,” answered the young captain. “Now come along, and don’t try to run away.”
“Where are you going to take me? I wasn’t doing any harm. I got sleepy and thought I’d take a nap, that’s all.”
“Codfish, if I wasn’t mad at you, I’d have to laugh,” answered Fred. “Of course you’d rather sleep on a wooden box in the toolhouse than on your own soft bed upstairs, wouldn’t you?” he added sarcastically.
By this time Andy came running up, presently followed by his twin. As the three Rover boys surrounded him, Henry Stowell became more disturbed than ever.
“You let me alone!” he howled. “Don’t you dare touch me! I haven’t done anything!”
“Stowell, you stuffed that cannon with stones. You know you did!” cried Randy, catching the sneak by the collar.
“I didn’t! I didn’t do anything!” howled Codfish.
“Yes, you did! And you’ve got to admit it!” stormed Andy, shaking his fist under the sneak’s nose. “You tell the truth now or you’ll get the worst licking you ever had in your life.”
“Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me!” bellowed Codfish, now shaking from head to foot. “Let me alone! Help! Help!” he added feebly.
“Shut up!” And now Randy clapped his hand over the sneak’s mouth. “You yell again and you’ll get something you won’t want. Now then, out with it! Why did you put the stones in the cannon?”