Kester had risen from where he had been lounging on deck smoking his pipe. Dan had not observed him. The lad was too fully occupied with his own thoughts to give heed to what was going on about him.
All at once he became aware that some one was speaking to him.
“How’s your red-headed friend this morning?”
Dan glanced up quickly, to find himself face to face with Bill Kester.
He eyed the bully with a steady gaze.
“Don’t want to speak to me, eh?”
“No. I shall be very much obliged if you will keep away from me. If you don’t, I am afraid I shall forget myself.”
Kester laughed long and loud.
“Forget yourself! Ho, ho, ho! That’s a joke—the funniest thing I ever heard. You think you can bluff Bill Kester, do you?”
“I never bluff.”