When the surfman had pulled with a strong stroke for some distance he paused long enough to wave his hand to the boy; after which Darry turned away to get the articles Mrs. Peake wanted at the store, and for which she had doled out the necessary cash to a penny.
It would seem as though Abner must have had a vision of some coming trouble in connection with the ne'er-do-well son of the notorious wrecker, Dilks, for even as Darry entered the village street on his way to the general store he saw the heavily built young ruffian shuffling toward him.
There was a leer on the features of the bully.
Our hero had knocked around the world long enough to be able to detect signs of a coming storm when he saw them; and if ever the signals were set for trouble they certainly gave evidence of being now, when that shiftless Jim Dilks intercepted the newcomer.
CHAPTER V
AN ENCOUNTER ON THE ROAD
Jim Dilks had long ruled as the bully of Ashley village.
He had a reputation as a bad boy that served him in place of fighting; and as a rule an angry word from him was sufficient to command obedience.